DaysofPal — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to reshape the regional balance of power through renewed military escalation, analysts said, amid mounting criticism that recent developments have exposed strategic setbacks for Israeli occupation.
The escalation comes just hours after a temporary ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran came into effect following 40 days of military confrontation.
The deal, which began early Wednesday and is set to last two weeks, is intended to pave the way for broader negotiations to end the conflict that erupted on February 28.
However, Israeli airstrikes described as the most intense since 1982 targeted multiple areas in Lebanon, killing more than 200 people and injuring over 1,000, according to local reports.
Observers said the strikes reflect internal political pressures facing Netanyahu, who has struggled to present the ceasefire as a strategic success to the Israeli far-right coalition partners.
Political analyst Ahmed Al-Hila described the strikes as “Israeli madness,” arguing they stem from frustration over failing to achieve military objectives before the ceasefire.
He said the attacks appear aimed at separating the Iranian and Lebanese fronts by imposing new facts on the ground and provoking Hezbollah into a response that could derail upcoming negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Al-Hila warned that the ceasefire remains fragile and could collapse without meaningful U.S. pressure on the Israeli occupation to halt its operations.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused both the United States and Israeli occupation of violating key provisions of the ceasefire proposal, including failing to uphold a comprehensive halt in hostilities and breaching Iranian airspace with a drone over the city of Lar in Persian province.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dr. Ali Abu Rizq said the escalation in Lebanon, despite provisions in the agreement to halt war across all fronts, including Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, underscores Israel’s inability to achieve its broader strategic goals.
He argued that these developments reinforce the concept of a multi-front “resistance axis,” a central premise highlighted during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, and challenge Israeli narratives of decisive victory.
Abu Rizq added that Netanyahu may be prolonging regional tensions to manage internal political crises and avoid the collapse of his government or potential electoral defeat.
He also suggested that the ceasefire could allow Hezbollah to reassert its political influence both domestically and regionally.
Military analyst Hassan Jouni said Israeli strikes appear to target civilian, commercial, and residential areas rather than strictly military objectives, describing them as part of a broader retaliatory approach following the U.S.-Iran truce.
He warned that continued escalation could deepen internal divisions within Lebanon and push the region toward a wider conflict.
Jouni also emphasized that Iran is unlikely to accept any attempt to isolate the Lebanese front from the broader ceasefire framework.
As tensions persist, the situation remains volatile, with growing concerns that ongoing violations and retaliatory actions could derail diplomatic efforts and trigger a broader regional confrontation.
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