US intelligence warned Israel could derail Iran peace push, report says

WASHINGTON: US intelligence agencies warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was likely to take steps that could weaken President Donald Trump’s effort to secure a durable peace arrangement with Iran.

Israel appeared intent on continuing military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon despite provisions in the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding that call for an end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

US officials believe that even without a further escalation, Israel’s continued refusal to pull its forces out of southern Lebanon could jeopardise the already fragile agreement. One US official said Israel’s presence there risked reigniting fighting with Hezbollah.

"Continuing to occupy part of Lebanon is a recipe for disaster,"

The official added “Without a full Israeli withdrawal, the likelihood of resumed hostilities between the (Israeli military) and Hezbollah is all but certain”.

Vance issues warning to Israel

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday cautioned Israel against pushing away its “only powerful ally”, saying Trump “is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.”

Separately, a US official confirmed to Anadolu that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire that was due to take effect at 4pm local time, or 1300 GMT, on Friday.

Casualties reported in Lebanon

Before the ceasefire was to begin, at least 31 people were killed and several others wounded in a series of Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency.

The latest official figures said Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, which began on March 2, has killed 3,912 people, injured 11,873 others and displaced more than one million residents.

The developments came amid concerns in Washington that renewed conflict in Lebanon could undermine the broader US-backed effort to turn the recent understanding with Iran into a lasting peace arrangement.