The Israeli military on Friday carried out overnight strikes across southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah fighters, killing at least 16 people and putting a painstakingly brokered peace agreement between
the United States and Iran at risk.
Israel, which has expressed dissatisfaction with the US-Iran agreement struck without its consultation, has refused to withdraw troops from Lebanon, one of Iran’s main conditions to end the 107-day war in West Asia. Hostilities continue in Lebanon, with an Israeli far-right minister saying “all of Lebanon must burn.”
“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn! With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn. Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration,” said Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
על כל דמעה של אמא ישראלית, אלף אמהות לבנוניות צריכות לבכות. לבנון כולה צריכה לבעור!
עם כל הכבוד לאמריקאים, ישראל חייבת להבהיר לעולם כולו שדם בנינו וביטחון אזרחנו איננו הפקר. לבנון כולה צריכה לבעור. חובתנו העליונה היא להגן על אזרחי ישראל ועל חיילי צה״ל, והמחויבות הזו קודמת לכל…
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) June 19, 2026
The stark warning underscores Israel’s unhappiness with the US-Iran agreement and raises doubts about whether the Trump administration can successfully achieve peace in the region amid fierce opposition from one of its key allies.
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Why Is Israel Unhappy With US-Iran Deal?
US President Donald Trump’s push for a peace agreement with Iran has sparked criticism from several Israeli politicians, most of whom have insisted that Israel’s campaign against Iran and its proxies is critical for its national security.
Critics argue that the deal failed to address concerns over Iran’s ballistic and missile programme and granted major concessions to Tehran, including a $300 billion rehabilitation fund. The right wing in Israel has accused Trump of abandoning Israel, while the opposition leaders called it a strategic failure.
ALSO READ: Unhappy With Iran Deal, Netanyahu Taps MAGA Media, Pro-Israel Senators To Sway Trump
Despite Trump’s insistence that Israel must tone down its campaign in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to face elections later this year, affirmed that he will not withdraw forces, insisting that Israeli troops will remain in Lebanon until the threat posed by Hezbollah is eliminated.
Since the deal was struck, the mood in Israel is one of deep anger and suspicion. Since the October 7 attacks in 2023, the Israeli government has made the elimination of Iran-backed regional proxies a core focus of its security policy, with military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. Netanyahu is believed to have personally pushed Washington into a war with Iran, citing concerns over its nuclear programme.
However, the war has exposed growing rifts between Trump and Netanyahu. In an extraordinary rebuke, US Vice President JD Vance attacked Israeli critics of the Iran deal, saying Trump was the “only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel.”
Can Israel Defy Trump?
Israel is one of Washington’s most important partners in West Asia, with the two cooperating extensively on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism operations, missile defence and regional security issues. The United States provides Israel with roughly $4 billion in military assistance a year, which Vance said was “paid for by American tax dollars.”
Despite this, America’s influence over Israel has been limited. The US cannot directly veto Israeli military operations, and previous governments have occasionally acted against Washington’s wishes when they believed national security was at stake, prioritising their security interests over diplomatic disagreements.
ALSO READ: Trump’s Iran Deal Leaves Israel Cornered. What Are Netanyahu’s Options Now?
Israel has long viewed Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group based in Lebanon, as one of its most serious security threats. In the current scenario, Israel has remained adamant about keeping its forces in Lebanon even if the US and Iran reach a deal. While Iran has insisted on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, any commitments made under the deal would not automatically bind Israel unless it formally agreed to them.
However, one of Israel’s main priorities would be to defend itself while preserving US political support and diplomatic trust. Despite ongoing tensions, Israel still retains extensive support from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
