In his first public statement following the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark clarification, asserting that the terms of the deal explicitly exclude the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
"The ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah," Netanyahu declared, drawing a clear distinction between the state-level agreement and the Iran-backed proxy force. This statement appears aimed at preempting any potential ambiguity regarding the scope of the diplomatic arrangement and its implications for regional security dynamics.
Analysts suggest this delineation underscores Israel's ongoing security concerns regarding Hezbollah's substantial arsenal and its presence along Israel's northern border. By publicly excluding the group from the ceasefire framework, Netanyahu signals that Israel reserves the right to respond to threats or attacks originating from Hezbollah, irrespective of the broader diplomatic understanding with Tehran.
The Prime Minister's remarks are seen as an attempt to maintain Israel's operational freedom in the region while acknowledging the broader geopolitical shift represented by the US-Iran agreement. The statement reinforces Israel's long-standing position of holding Iran directly responsible for the actions of its allied militias across the Middle East.