US intelligence indicates Israeli operations against Hezbollah may undermine US-Iran MoU - report

US officials claimed that intelligence reports indicate that if Israel continues operations against Hezbollah, it may negatively impact the success of the fragile US-Iran agreement.

US intelligence agencies have alerted the White House that sustained Israeli military actions targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon could jeopardize the Trump administration's recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, according to a Friday report in The Washington Post.

The disclosure came soon after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire.

IDF spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin stated on Friday that the military intends to keep neutralizing direct threats to Israeli security and will react to any Hezbollah breaches of the truce.

Current and former US officials told The Washington Post that intelligence assessments suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to press operations against Hezbollah could harm prospects for the vulnerable US-Iran deal.

One official familiar with the assessments said Netanyahu's standing ahead of elections depends on demonstrating his commitment to weakening Hezbollah.

The assessments, The Washington Post noted, highlight how any Israeli pullback from southern Lebanon or halt in operations against Hezbollah could be viewed as a setback for Netanyahu.

Israeli view that US-Iran deal limits defense options against Hezbollah

Another official explained that the reports outline Israel's concern the MoU might restrict its ability to counter threats from Lebanon and hinder efforts to keep pressure on Iran's regime, which backs Hezbollah as a regional proxy.

An Israeli official told The Washington Post on condition of anonymity that military activity in Lebanon serves only to protect Israeli citizens from ongoing Hezbollah attacks.

One US official added that even without escalation, Israel's continued presence in Lebanon could suffice to upend the agreement.

Continuing to hold territory in Lebanon invites trouble, the official told The Washington Post, warning that without a full IDF withdrawal, renewed fighting appears almost inevitable.

Trump administration officials have maintained that the pact's terms allow Israel to address ceasefire violations and that Israeli worries are outweighed by the value of reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic.