A New Equation in Lebanon? Security Officials Are Skeptical: "We Have No Clear Instructions"

Political officials have claimed that Israel has created a new equation with Hezbollah, according to which any attack on northern communities will trigger an Israeli strike in Beirut. But senior security officials are casting doubt on that claim. "Beyond the media statements, there is no such clear directive," security sources said.

Senior officials in the security establishment are skeptical about the "new equation" in the north, under which Hezbollah launches at northern communities would lead to an Israeli response in Beirut. "We do not know whether the political echelon succeeded in establishing the equation of strikes in Beirut for every attack on northern communities," senior security officials said, as we reported yesterday, Tuesday, on "The Main Edition."

Since yesterday, the political echelon has claimed that Israel created a new equation against Hezbollah, with the consent of President Trump, according to which every time Hezbollah attacks the northern communities and cities, 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 internal discussions, and beyond the media statements, there is no such clear instruction."

We published new details tonight from the discussions at the top of the Israeli leadership yesterday, 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 word and in deed.

The exchange in the closed discussion, before Trump’s ceasefire order, was as follows: IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir: We must not under any circumstances get into equations. Aryeh Deri: Even at the price of breaking with the United States? The chief of staff: No, but can we afford to be fired at and then be limited in our response?

In short, in Israel there is talk of a new equation that has been established, but the test in practice could come very quickly. Security officials are recommending that the political echelon 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.