Key facts
- Israel's ground operation in southern Lebanon has caused Iran to suspend indirect talks with the US.
- Hezbollah rejected a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government.
- Israel stated its forces would not withdraw from Lebanon or halt operations.
- The US is seeking to maintain negotiations to avoid a wider regional war.
- France requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting due to Israel's advance.
- European allies are showing signs of losing patience with Israel's actions.
Israel's expanding ground operation in southern Lebanon has led Iran to suspend its indirect exchange of messages with Washington. This move is a reaction to a broader crisis where the Lebanese front is intertwined with US-Iranian negotiations, Israel's security calculations, and regional power dynamics. Israel states its actions are defensive, aimed at protecting northern areas and restoring deterrence, while Hezbollah frames its actions as resistance. The Lebanese state lacks the power to control either side. The US is concerned about a wider regional war, while Iran views the developments as a blow to its regional influence. The expansion of Israel's operation, including strikes on Beirut's suburbs, has shifted the political landscape, prompting France to request an emergency UN Security Council meeting. European allies, already critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, are showing signs of losing patience and may reduce political cover for the Israeli cabinet's policies, potentially leading to colder official statements and pressure at the UN. Israel's leadership is motivated by military necessity, restoring public trust, dismantling Iran's regional military infrastructure, and domestic political considerations favoring territorial control. The conflict's escalation risks further international isolation for Israel.
Two days after another ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hezbollah, residents in northern Israel describe life under fire. Rockets, drones, and uncertainty have persisted despite ceasefire announcements. Residents express frustration with the disconnect between political decisions and the reality on the ground, referring to the situation as 'the ceasefire war.' Children study inside shelters, and parts of communities still lack protected rooms. Construction projects remain unfinished due to proximity to the border. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has warned that the group will continue to fight. On Thursday, the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia rejected a new ceasefire in Lebanon, while Israel stated it would not withdraw its troops from the country. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected a U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would not be withdrawing or halting operations.
Iranian and U.S. forces traded attacks in the Gulf on Wednesday. Iranian forces struck Kuwait's airport, killing one person and injuring more than 60, authorities said, while the U.S. military carried out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. The strait normally handles a fifth of the global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, but has been largely closed since the war began three months ago. Iranian oil exports have fallen to their lowest level in six years, according to shipping data, but global oil prices fell by about 3% on hopes that the Lebanon ceasefire could help Washington and Iran find a diplomatic off-ramp from their war. There has been little evidence of diplomatic progress, though Trump has repeatedly declared since late March that a deal is close. Trump is under pressure at home to bring down fuel prices ahead of November's congressional elections.