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Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/06/21/do-not-succumb-to-irans-deterrence-equation/
Israel Cannot Give Up Its Freedom of Action Against Hizbullah
(Israel Hayom) Dr. Yossi Mansharof - Iran is attempting to impose a new deterrence equation on Israel, in which any significant Israeli action against Hizbullah in Lebanon, particularly in Beirut's Dahiyeh district, would trigger a direct Iranian response against Israel. Iran seeks to position itself as the ultimate arbiter of the scope of Israeli military activity in Lebanon. However, history suggests that accommodating Iranian threats does not moderate Tehran's conduct; it encourages further demands. Accordingly, sustained military pressure on Hizbullah must be complemented by diplomatic engagement with the Trump administration to clarify that acquiescence to Iranian consolidation runs counter to American interests. Resisting Iranian efforts to impose a new deterrence equation is a strategic imperative. It requires rejecting attempts to constrain Israel's freedom of action through threats. In the Middle East, and especially in Tehran, restraint driven by fear of escalation is often interpreted as weakness. Experience suggests that Iran's ambitions are more likely to be curbed by resolve than by accommodation. The writer is a senior researcher at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy.