Israel Reacts to U.S.-Iran Talks with Escalation

(The Soufan Center) Israel has escalated pressure on Hamas and Hezbollah by moving deeper into both Gaza and Lebanon and killing two successive leaders of Hamas’ military wing. Israeli leaders view the combat as increasing their leverage before finalization of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement that reportedly will require Israel to halt its operations against Iran-aligned factions. U.S.-backed peace agreements in both Gaza and Lebanon are stalled, and neither Hamas nor Hezbollah has shown any sign of agreeing to comply with provisions requiring them to disarm. Arab and Islamic leaders accuse the Trump foreign policy team of tacitly backing Israel’s operations against the two groups, which Washington has long characterized as terrorist organizations helping Tehran project power in the region. – Israel Reacts to U.S.-Iran Talks with Escalation – The Soufan Center