US Limits Israeli Military Response to Hezbollah to Prevent Escalation in Lebanon

One day after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed strikes in southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire, reports from Lebanon on Thursday indicated that the United States intervened swiftly to curb escalation. According to information obtained by the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan, American efforts successfully restricted Israel's military response, preventing the situation from undermining ongoing negotiations. The third day of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome was reportedly preserved due to this intervention.

A Lebanese official told Nidaa al-Watan that Lebanon sought to de-escalate tensions through diplomatic and security contacts. However, Hezbollah's lack of cooperation and Israel's insistence on neutralizing any threats are pushing the situation toward possible escalation. The official explained that all options remain open, prompting Lebanon to take necessary steps to halt the escalation and return to negotiations under U.S. pressure to resolve issues peacefully while recognizing Lebanon's demands.

The IDF confirmed that in response to an incident in which two reservists, Lt. Col. Harel Birnstok and Sgt. Maj. Tamir Vaknin, were killed, it struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure across several locations in southern Lebanon within the past 24 hours. Targets included weapons depots, command centers, and other facilities. Earlier, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents near the village of al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon, an area within the security zone controlled by Israel, citing ongoing military activity that endangered Lebanese civilians. The IDF stated that Lebanese civilians were evacuated under the protection of the Lebanese army, which had set up a checkpoint in violation of agreements.

An IDF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ella Vaya, said in Arabic that the violations forced Israel to act strongly against Hezbollah. She urged civilians to immediately leave their homes and move at least one kilometer north to ensure their safety, warning that proximity to Hezbollah operatives or infrastructure endangers lives. Israeli media reported that the IDF is preparing options for further strikes in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials expressed deep disappointment with the Lebanese army's performance and its failure to act against Hezbollah. Political-level discussions were convened to decide whether and how to expand the response ahead of the resumption of Israel-Lebanon talks.