Published on 6/23/2026
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Last update: 01:08 (Mecca time)
The political leadership in Israel issued restrictions on the movement of the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, in a move that may reflect American pressure to push Tel Aviv to adhere to the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran, to end the war and pave the way for negotiations regarding the controversial issues.
Israeli Channel 13 reported that the political leadership has already issued a regulation that includes the limits of the army’s movement in southern Lebanon, and stipulates the freedom to operate within the yellow line for the purpose of repelling direct threats, while prohibiting operations in remote areas in Beirut and Tyre.
The channel pointed out that this step reflects increasing restrictions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump on the Israeli government and the army, not only in Lebanon but in various other arenas.
The channel quoted a high-ranking Israeli official as saying, “The message we received in recent weeks from the Americans is clear: You had the right to work without restrictions, and that has ended.”
The content of the message contradicts previous assertions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he made in a video clip, in which he said that the Israeli army enjoys complete freedom – and without restrictions – to operate in the security sector in southern Lebanon, under the pretext of confronting any direct and potential threat to the residents of the north.
Contrast positions
Earlier on Monday, the Hebrew newspaper Maariv reported that there was a difference in positions between the United States and Israel regarding the Lebanese file.
The newspaper said that Washington is looking at southern Lebanon within a broader regional context that includes the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices, and the Iranian nuclear file, in addition to the Trump administration’s need to achieve a diplomatic achievement.
On the other hand, Israel believes that any early withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon may be interpreted as a sign of weakness and considered a reward for Hezbollah.
The US-Iranian agreement entered into force on June 18, 2026, after it was signed electronically by Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, and includes a clause stipulating respect for Lebanon’s unity and territorial integrity.
Israel has been occupying areas in southern Lebanon, some of them for decades, while it took control of other areas during the war that took place between 2023 and 2024. During the last aggression, it also penetrated more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Gaza is on the table
These developments come at a time when Israel is seeking to take escalatory military steps with the aim of disarming Hamas.
According to Israeli Channel 13, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held – Monday evening – a meeting with senior Israeli army officials to discuss this issue, in addition to the increasing influence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The channel added that the meeting witnessed a recommendation to begin a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip with the aim of disarming the Hamas movement, with varying degrees of intensity according to the decision that may be taken by the political level.
But the estimates presented during the meeting – according to the channel – expressed fears that Trump would oppose any large-scale operation in Gaza, and show flexibility towards Hamas regarding its disarmament file.
Although the ceasefire agreement has been in effect since October 10, 2025, Israel continues its daily violations through bombing and shooting, which led to hundreds of martyrs and wounded.
The agreement was reached after a two-year war that began on October 8, 2023, and resulted in more than 73,000 martyrs and more than 173,000 wounded, in addition to widespread destruction that affected about 90% of the civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
