US pressure limits Israel as Iran steps in to save a weakened Hezbollah, experts say - analysis

US pressure is reportedly limiting Israel's ability to act against Hezbollah, creating a situation where Iran is stepping in to support its proxy, according to Middle East experts.

Tensions are running high following a day of conflict between Israel and Iran, which reportedly ended through American coercion. Media reports suggest a tense conversation between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu included a threat by the American leader not to assist Israel if it continued striking the Islamic Republic. "The Trump administration has created a totally new and very bad reality," Amatzia Baram, a professor emeritus at the University of Haifa and an expert in Middle Eastern politics, told The Media Line. "To appease Iran, they are willing to limit Israel in Lebanon. Washington wants this even more than the Lebanese government itself. This is a grave mistake."

Israeli strikes against Hezbollah over the weekend triggered retaliation from Iran, cementing a new regional equation. For decades, Israel considered Hezbollah its most formidable enemy, believing it had nearly defeated the group in late 2024. However, Iran now uses Hezbollah as a deterrent, threatening to attack Israel if its proxy is targeted. This dynamic has shifted from a focus on Hezbollah's force to its role as a threat.

Despite an apparent ceasefire, both Israel and Hezbollah are violating its terms. Hezbollah has continued rocket and drone fire into northern Israel, while Israel has attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Both sides are attempting to control the escalation and limit attacks to the border regions, leaving Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut off-limits. The ceasefire briefly spiraled out of control when Israel struck Hezbollah terrorists in Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood, prompting an Iranian threat and subsequent retaliation. Reports indicate no casualties from the Iranian missile barrage in Israel or from Iranian reports.

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The Trump administration has created a totally new and very bad reality. To appease Iran, they are willing to limit Israel in Lebanon. Washington wants this even more than the Lebanese government itself. This is a grave mistake.