A former senior Mossad official has revealed that American-imposed restrictions are significantly limiting Israel's military operations in Lebanon, offering rare insight into tensions between the allies during the current crisis.
"We could have long since captured and held the second ridge line," Oded Eilam told 103fm radio on Sunday. "The maneuver could have been much more intensive and meaningful, but these restrictions haven't allowed us to operate as we wished."
His comments come as diplomatic efforts intensify to broker peace in the region. The US Embassy in Beirut has reportedly presented Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri with a draft ceasefire agreement based on UN Resolution 1701, according to the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid.
The emerging peace framework would allow the Lebanese Army to arm itself, with support from both the US and France. Under the proposal, Lebanese forces would be tasked with maintaining order south of the Litani River and dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in the area.