Israel Freezes Sensitive Lebanon Operations at U.S. Request

Israel's political leadership instructed the IDF to freeze operations considered sensitive in southern Lebanon after a U.S. request, as Washington works to prevent the renewed U.S.-Iran confrontation from pulling Israel into a wider fight. Reports said the directive remains in force until further notice while the Iran escalation and Israel-Lebanon negotiations develop. A security source said Israel is prepared to answer any Iranian attack with significant strikes inside Iran, but the IDF was told to wait. The same reports said pilot-zone withdrawals in southern Lebanon could begin next week alongside Rome talks, with Hezbollah disarmament still the test for any durable pullback.