Israel Likely To Continue Strikes In Lebanon Despite Ceasefire: US Intelligence

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 11:52 IST

The intelligence report was prepared before Vice President JD Vance publicly criticised Netanyahu on Thursday.

Despite Israel’s announcement that it has halted offensive operations in Lebanon, recent US intelligence assessments suggest there is scepticism within American spy agencies over whether the ceasefire can be sustained due to continuing security concerns.

Israel is not a signatory to the agreement reached earlier this week between the United States and Iran. However, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said on Friday that Israel had agreed to an immediate ceasefire and had “halted all offensive operations" in Lebanon, as reported by the New York Times.

He maintained that Israeli troops would continue to remain in southern Lebanon and stressed that Israel would not compromise on its security, according to the outlet.

The assessment reflects growing unease within US intelligence circles about the durability of such commitments, particularly in light of recent violence along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Earlier on Friday, Israel carried out airstrikes in Lebanon after a Hezbollah drone attack killed four Israeli soldiers in an ambush in Israeli-controlled southern Lebanon. According to reports, the Israeli strikes left at least 47 people dead. The attacks came after a series of previous Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah positions.

The renewed fighting also delayed planned talks between American and Iranian officials, which were scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday.

The latest intelligence findings, first reported by The Washington Post, indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior security officials remain uneasy about the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran.

At the same time, relations between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu appear strained, although there are few signs that the Israeli leader intends to abandon ties with the US administration. Officials said Netanyahu hopes his relationship with Trump will improve before Israelis head to the polls later this year.

The intelligence report was prepared before Vice President JD Vance publicly criticised Netanyahu on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference promoting the US-Iran agreement, Vance criticised members of Netanyahu’s cabinet who had attacked the United States and Trump over the ceasefire.

“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower," Vance said.

“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world."

Israeli embassy officials in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israeli officials have maintained that their operations in Lebanon are defensive measures aimed at countering Hezbollah attacks.

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