New Equation in Lebanon? Security Officials Are Skeptical: “We Don’t Have Clear Instructions”

Political leaders say Israel has created a new equation with Hezbollah, under which any attack on northern communities will trigger an Israeli strike in Beirut. “Beyond media statements, there is no such clear directive,” security officials said.

Senior officials in the security establishment are casting doubt on the “new equation” in the north, according to which Hezbollah launches at communities in the north would draw an Israeli response in Beirut. “We do not know whether the political echelon has managed to establish the equation of strikes in Beirut for every attack on northern communities,” senior security officials said, as we reported yesterday (Tuesday) on "The Central Edition."

Since yesterday, the political leadership has argued that Israel has created a new equation against Hezbollah, with President Trump’s approval, according to which every time Hezbollah attacks the towns and cities of the north, it will have a clear consequence, an Israeli strike in Beirut. Security sources speaking with N12 say: “For now, there is no such directive. It was not agreed in the internal discussions, and beyond media statements, there is no such clear instruction.”

Today we published new details from the discussions held yesterday at the top levels of the Israeli leadership, against the backdrop of Trump’s instruction and the end of the short round of fighting with Iran. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned in those discussions that Iran was the one that fired the last shot, both in words and in action.

The conversation in the closed discussion, before Trump’s ceasefire order: IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir: We must not under any circumstances get into equations. Aryeh Deri: Even at the cost of tearing the rope with the United States? The Chief of Staff: No, but can we afford to be fired upon and be limited in our response?

In the end, Israel is talking about a new equation that has been established, but the practical test could come very quickly. Security officials are recommending that the political leadership accelerate negotiations with Lebanon and seek American guarantees for an agreement that would allow Israel to enforce any Hezbollah violation. For now, the sides are not there yet, despite some progress in the talks.