Lebanese President’s Support for Hezbollah-Linked Army Chief Raises Alarm in Israel

Middle East analyst Yoni Ben Menachem warned on Wednesday about a dangerous development in Lebanon that is raising red flags in Israel. Despite Hezbollah suffering significant setbacks, Iran is actively working to thwart Israeli-American efforts aimed at weakening the group, including demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as a condition for continuing negotiations.

Ben Menachem highlighted that Iran has halted talks with the United States over a memorandum of understanding between Israel and Lebanon, insisting on conditions related to Lebanon, primarily Israel’s complete military pullout and cessation of hostilities. He also noted that disputes over the strategic Strait of Hormuz are delaying broader negotiations, with Iran seeking control over shipping lanes through its Revolutionary Guards.

The most concerning development, according to Ben Menachem, is the public backing given by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal, who is known to support Hezbollah. This "embrace" signals that the Lebanese army is unlikely to disarm Hezbollah as expected under political agreements. Ben Menachem urged Israel to pressure the U.S. to remove Heikal and to challenge President Aoun’s legitimization of him, warning that without such moves, Hezbollah will remain armed within Lebanon.

This situation complicates Israel’s security outlook in the north, as it cannot rely on Beirut to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities. The warnings come amid ongoing Israeli-American efforts to stabilize the border region and reduce Hezbollah’s influence, which Iran continues to counteract through political and military support.