Israel has told the US administration that its current policy of restraint in Lebanon is undermining its deterrent capability and serving Hezbollah’s interests.
Channel 12 reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump in a phone call. It said Netanyahu warned that relying only on reactive responses, without taking the initiative, gives Hezbollah an opportunity to recover and strengthen its ideological position, while exposing Israeli forces on the ground to growing risks.
According to the Israeli position, the continued use of limited operations is gradually eroding deterrence and negatively affecting the security of residents in the north, as well as the army’s operational readiness.
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In this context, Netanyahu has asked Trump to urgently limit the duration of the diplomatic track with the Lebanese government to no more than mid-May, meaning around two to three weeks.
This comes after Trump rejected an Iranian proposal that included a ceasefire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz before discussions on the nuclear file.
Tel Aviv believes that continued Hezbollah attacks on northern forces and communities are undermining the chances of any successful negotiations. It is calling on Washington to set a clear timeframe, and if talks fail within that period, to allow it to “return to the original plan”, a reference to wider military escalation, according to Channel 12.
Israel views US restrictions as limiting its freedom of military action and giving Hezbollah space to reorganise. With no clear timeline for how long this policy will continue, the decision is largely linked to Washington’s desire to maintain a broader negotiating track with Iran, placing Tel Aviv in a complex position between US strategic calculations and its own immediate security needs.
READ: Report: Hezbollah drone tactics expose Israeli gaps despite advanced systems
