IDF Prepares to End Lebanon Operations, Warns Against Linking the Lebanese and Iranian Arenas

The IDF is preparing to wind down its activity in Lebanon and is warning Israeli leaders not to accept a deal that ties Lebanon to the Iran file. The concern follows a memorandum of understanding signed overnight between the United States and Iran, which was published in full on Wednesday and includes a halt to military activity on all fronts, explicitly mentioning Lebanon several times.

According to the article, senior security officials said before the agreement was signed, “It is forbidden for Iran to have an achievement in the signing.” They also described accepting a Lebanon clause as an American condition as “unbearable,” saying it would erode deterrence. The IDF has recommended that the political leadership move quickly, both toward Washington and the Lebanese government, to reach an understanding that is not dictated by the Americans.

Israeli officials are also uneasy about Donald Trump’s suggestion that Syria should be the side to deal with Hezbollah. The same officials said the Syrian connection to the arrangement must be prevented. Meanwhile, the IDF is staying on the “yellow line” in southern Lebanon and is expected to remain there for the next 60 days, even if no fighting takes place, in order to preserve calm for northern Israeli residents and prepare for a phased withdrawal later.

The memorandum also has major implications for Iran. It says the United States and Iran will stop military activity immediately and permanently across all arenas, while also affirming Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. That would likely require an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. In exchange, the U.S. Treasury is expected to grant a waiver allowing Iran to export crude oil and refined products without restriction during the negotiations, and Washington could also grant access to frozen funds abroad.