Israeli troops have uncovered a large-scale underground Hezbollah drone factory just inside the Lebanon border, as an uneasy peace descends upon the region. The tunnel complex was exposed four miles north of the Israeli border and was being used to assemble deadly Iranian Kamikaze drones by militants in secret. It was found beneath the village of Majdal Zoun, inside an area overrun by Israel’s forces in the opening days of the war, and the drones are being destroyed.
Ceasefires and Peace Talks
The discovery comes as ceasefires have fallen upon Iran and southern Lebanon, despite bellicose outbursts from US President Donald Trump during peace talks in Switzerland. The talks hit a buffer after Israel repeatedly refused to accept pressure not to attack southern Lebanon, citing threats from Hezbollah. An unspoken ceasefire has been settled upon by Israel and Hezbollah as the Swiss talks ended, and 60 days of talks with Iran began between mediators.
A US-Iran memorandum of understanding failed to exclude Lebanon despite protestations from Israel, which says it has a right to defend itself. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel will respect the ceasefire as long as Hezbollah does as well. He stated: “We don’t have territorial ambitions in Lebanon. But we will not withdraw from the security zone and expose our citizens to Hezbollah’s attacks and possible invasion. Lebanon’s sovereignty has been breached for decades to this very day by Iran’s indirect occupation by Hezbollah. It’s in the interest of both Lebanon and Israel that Hezbollah’s terror state will be dismantled.”
Negotiation Challenges
War in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened to derail peace talks as Trump becomes increasingly desperate to end his war on Iran. Iran is becoming increasingly frustrated by the US sending inexperienced real estate businessman Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. One Western intelligence source told the Daily Mirror: “The Iranians are negotiating very hard with the team Trump has sent but they find them unprofessional. They believe it is demeaning Witkoff and Kushner and they do not take them very seriously as they are neither diplomats nor politicians and have strong links to Israel. Also they have no track record in their roles.”
Recent Violence and Strait of Hormuz
A weekend of intense violence across Lebanon ended with ceasefires falling on both Iran and Beirut territory as Swiss peace talks concluded and a 60-day negotiation started. Dozens have died in Lebanon in just a few days, including five Israeli soldiers killed. Eighteen hours of Iran peace talks in Switzerland ended, and Tehran warned an impatient US President to stop making threats after Trump warned Iran “won’t have a country” if they close the Strait of Hormuz. At one point, Trump’s fresh outburst on social media led to Iran refusing to re-enter a room for talks. However, Pakistani and Qatari mediators say both sides have a roadmap for a deal within 60 days.
The flow of ships through the Strait has trickled down to five yesterday after Tehran said they had re-closed it. At least 500 trade vessels are still stuck in the region until the Strait is fully re-opened.
Strategic Bind for Israel
The Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre said the Lebanon threat meant Israel faces either attacking Hezbollah and upsetting the US or risking being attacked. The UK-Israel based research and analysis centre said: “Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire are intended to leave Israel in a strategic bind. Either it responds, and risks the ire of the Trump administration, as well as blame for scuttling talks to end the war in Iran, or it does nothing, allowing Hezbollah to attack it at will and formalising a linkage between Tehran’s priorities and the vulnerability of Israel’s northern towns and villages.”
