US Urges Israel to De-escalate on Three Fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran

Cracks are reportedly emerging between the United States (US) and Israel as Washington pressures Tel Aviv to de-escalate tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Channel 13 reported, citing a source, that US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper visited Israel on Saturday and delivered a message that Washington wants progress towards ‘closing three fronts.’ The pressure from Washington exposes differences over how Israel is preparing for a military withdrawal from areas outside its territory around the Middle East.

According to the report, Israeli military officials told CENTCOM that Israel intends to maintain its freedom of military action against Iran if Tehran continues its nuclear programme development. In Lebanon, Washington is pushing for a further withdrawal of Israeli forces from their current positions in the southern security zone. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the US is pushing for progress on implementing a ceasefire agreement and the deployment of a multinational force currently consisting of hundreds of troops from Morocco and Uganda.

A senior Israeli military official told Channel 13 that the message from Washington to the Israeli security leadership was to ‘move towards closing three fronts.’ The report also noted that Israeli military officials have objected to the American requests to halt targeted killings and reduce operations in Gaza.

The report from Channel 13 emerged alongside signals from US President Donald Trump on Sunday that Washington is now adopting a restrained approach towards Iran. ‘We are keeping it quiet,’ Trump told Axios, adding that the US is now ‘only semi-negotiating’ with Iran while closely monitoring the economic pressure on the country. ‘We are watching Iran with its tremendous inflation and the fact that they have no money,’ Trump said, signalling that Washington is preparing to rely on mounting economic pressure rather than launching an immediate military strike.