Published on 6/16/2026
Israeli fears are increasing that the expected memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran will be reflected on the Lebanon front, amid internal controversy that describes the step as a strategic disaster, at a time when the dispute is escalating between the administration of US President Donald Trump, which is seeking understandings, and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which is clinging to options on the ground.
In this context, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Palestine, Elias Karam, reported that there is a state of controversy inside Israel regarding the next steps, in light of the memorandum of understanding that will be signed between Tehran and Washington, which includes Lebanon as part of it.
While Netanyahu is trying to separate the arenas, indicators point to reconnecting them together, as Israeli circles have warned of a long-term strategic and security “disaster” if the memorandum is reflected in the Lebanese arena.
In a related context, Trump’s rebuke to Netanyahu was an indication of this unity among the arenas, as he asked him to be “responsible,” expressing his dissatisfaction with the military operations and the bombing of the southern suburb of Beirut, due to the American administration’s fear that the continuation of the fighting in Lebanon would reflect negatively on the memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Field receding
While the American President is trying to reach political understandings, Netanyahu is seeking to prolong this war. Karam reported from the Israeli Channel 12, and from soldiers and officers in the field, that operations were witnessing a decline and almost stopped in southern Lebanon due to the fact that orders were not issued to the soldiers.
Despite this, the Israeli occupation army announced in a statement the continuation of “threat removal” operations, noting the bombing of a missile platform, the interception of missiles, and the targeting of a vehicle that approached its forces in southern Lebanon.
Politically, Netanyahu faced pressure from US Vice President J.D. Vance in a phone call to reduce operations and military presence, but Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yisrael Katz opposed this, affirming the clear Israeli position of not withdrawing from the “security belt.”
Race against time
In light of this, the Al Jazeera correspondent explained that Israel is in a race against time before the expected negotiation session with Lebanon on the 22nd of this month, fearing that more pressure will be placed on it as this date approaches.
Accordingly, in the coming days, according to Karam, the Israeli army will seek to improve and fortify its military presence at the borders of the “yellow line” that it has reached, and attempt to deepen its achievements, as it attempted in the strategic “Ali Al-Taher” area, in parallel with preventing the return of displaced Lebanese to their villages in southern Lebanon as much as possible, and continuing operations to blow up homes near the international fence.
Earlier Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stressed that ending the war in Lebanon constitutes an integral part of the ongoing understanding with the United States, considering that stopping the escalation is organically linked to ending military operations on Lebanese territory within the framework of mutual commitments between the parties.
In turn, Netanyahu announced his rejection of what he described as the positioning of “terrorist organizations” on the border, noting that there were discrepancies with US President Donald Trump on some issues, while emphasizing the priority of Israeli security considerations.
