Israeli commentator Tzvi Yehezkeli wrote that Iran is trying to turn Hezbollah into leverage in talks with Donald Trump, while Israel’s room to act in Lebanon is shrinking even as the group is under strain. In his view, Tehran is linking the Strait of Hormuz issue to demands for a ceasefire in Lebanon and using the Hezbollah front as one of the key bargaining chips.
Yehezkeli said the latest days showed Iran exploiting Trump’s desire for a deal, while Lebanon is becoming an obstacle and Israel’s advance is slowing because of limits on continued fighting. He also said those limits come at a cost in the form of painful Israeli troop casualties.
He added that there are still strategically important targets in Lebanon, led by the Ali Taher ridge, which overlooks a large area in the south of the country. According to him, dozens of Hezbollah operatives want a ceasefire because they understand that continued fighting without restrictions could allow Israel to establish security and strategic facts on the ground. He said Iran is determined to prevent the erosion of its main regional proxy.
Yehezkeli also criticized Tehran for suddenly expressing concern about Lebanon and what it calls “Israeli crimes,” after years of violence against its own citizens, and said it has now reached a comfortable arrangement with Trump. He said Israel must take some American demands into account, but the overall picture is clear, Israel’s maneuvering space in Lebanon is narrowing while Hezbollah is under significant pressure.
Finally, he said a senior Hezbollah figure, Talal Hamiyah, was killed after years as a wanted and shadowy operative linked to international terror attacks, including the 1990s bombings in Argentina and the murder case involving former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. Yehezkeli said Hamiyah had been required to appear before the court in The Hague but never did, and concluded, “From Israel’s perspective, a long account has been settled.”
