Washington 'ends' Israeli freedom of action inside Lebanon: Report
Iran has reportedly threatened to end negotiations with the US if Israel continues to refuse withdrawal from Lebanon
News Desk 6/23/26
Hebrew media claimed on 22 June that the US has informed Israel that it no longer has authorization for “unrestricted” military action in Lebanon, despite continued Israeli attacks and occupation in the country.
According to Channel 12, Washington informed Tel Aviv that “the previous authorization for unrestricted action in Lebanon had expired.”
US President Donald Trump is “imposing restrictions on Israel, not only in Lebanon but also in other arenas.”
“These directives prohibit operations in areas such as the capital, Beirut, and the Tyre district in southern Lebanon,” the report went on to say.
Meanwhile, Israel has refused to withdraw from south Lebanon and has not fully ended attacks.
Two civilians were killed by Israeli artillery shelling on south Lebanon’s Nabatieh al-Fawqa on Tuesday as they were working to remove rubble caused by Tel Aviv's strikes on the area. One of them was a municipal worker.
“The Islamic Resistance warns that this act constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire, which the Resistance has adhered to until now,” Hezbollah said in a statement.
Regarding a separate incident on 23 June, the Israeli army said it “identified a cell of armed terrorists” near its forces in the Ali al-Taher area, adding that it “struck the terrorists in order to remove the threat.”
Israelnews updates
Since the Channel 13 report, Israeli officials have renewed their refusal to withdraw from Lebanon.
“The [army] will continue to act decisively to thwart threats to our soldiers and civilians, destroy terror infrastructure, and continue maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon,” Israel’s premier, war minister, and chief of staff said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
The statement came hours ahead of a new round of US-hosted direct talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv, which are being conducted in violation of Lebanese law and are rejected by Hezbollah.
Other recent Hebrew reports have said Tel Aviv is scrambling to sever Lebanon from Iran by reaching a separate agreement with the Lebanese government.
Israeli officials and media personalities have slammed the new understanding between the US and Iran, particularly the clause about ending attacks on and withdrawing from Lebanon.
Major clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah resistance fighters also raged throughout the weekend before a cessation of hostilities was imposed on Tel Aviv by Tehran’s pressure on Washington.
According to a recent report by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, talks between Tehran and Washington will be “halted” if Israel continues to refuse withdrawal from Lebanon.