Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon that the military 'will not leave' the area as long as the Iran-backed Hezbollah remains a 'threat' to his nation. This stance directly contradicts the first clause of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, which calls for an immediate and permanent halt to fighting on 'all fronts,' including Lebanon.

A day earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also stated that Israel's forces would not withdraw 'a millimeter' until Hezbollah is disarmed. The US-brokered framework agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government does not require an Israeli withdrawal, a deal Hezbollah has denounced as 'humiliating and shameful.'

Analysts suggest Netanyahu is walking a tightrope between domestic political pressures and US demands. With elections expected around October, a hasty withdrawal could be seen as capitulation. However, defying Washington risks a rupture with the US at a critical moment. Netanyahu understands that US President Donald Trump wants to prevent the Lebanon front from unraveling broader US-Iran negotiations.

Tehran has explicitly demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories before signing any peace deal with the US. Analysts believe Iran views Hezbollah as a crucial strategic asset and may use the Lebanon issue as a bargaining chip in negotiations, potentially trading concessions step by step.

Hezbollah was excluded from the framework agreement and has rejected it. Experts warn that without Hezbollah's buy-in, the deal will be difficult to implement and could trigger further conflict. The US prioritizes the nuclear issue with Iran and may show more flexibility on Lebanon if progress is made in bilateral talks.

Source: www.aljazeera.com