US Pressure Leads Israel to Tighten Fire Rules in Lebanon

The Israeli military sharply reduced its strikes in southern Lebanon over the past week after a major tightening of its rules of engagement, according to a report by Army Radio. The change took effect days before the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, and followed President Donald Trump’s announcement that an agreement with Iran was moving forward.

Under the new policy, attacks that were previously approved at the division commander and Northern Command levels now require approval from the chief of staff, and in some cases from the political echelon as well. Northern Command was reportedly told early last week to almost completely stop firing in southern Lebanon.

The report said the stricter restrictions mainly affect southern Lebanon. In Beirut’s Dahiya district and in the Bekaa Valley, Israel had already largely stopped operating in recent months because of American constraints, so the practical effect was to further narrow Israel’s freedom of action in areas where it had still been operating.

Officers who spoke to Army Radio criticized the new policy, saying it makes it harder to hit Hezbollah operatives and thwart threats near the Israeli ground forces. They added that the reduced strikes also weaken protection for troops operating on the ground.