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Posted on 06/01/2026 10:18:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Perhaps Hezbollah finally got a whiff of utter defeat. Either that, or they just got a reprieve courtesy of Iran. If it's the latter, though, they didn't get much.
Donald Trump announced this afternoon that Hezbollah has had enough in Lebanon. The group had refused to comply with the ceasefire between Israel and the civilian government in Beirut, continuing to volley missiles at civilian targets. The IDF has captured strategic points in the sub-Litani region and had warned residents in Hezbollah-controlled areas of the capital to evacuate.
That's when Hezbollah sued for peace, and Trump intervened:
I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back. Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel. President DONALD J. TRUMP
The Jerusalem Post has more on the cessation, which came just before the IDF planned to strike Hezbollah's command operations in the suburbs of Beirut:
The speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri, had earlier informed Trump's administration of Hezbollah's readiness for a ceasefire with Israel and that it has promised to guarantee that it would be implemented, Axios reported on Monday, citing Berri's top advisor Ali Hamdan. Berri is Shia, and heads Lebanon's Amal Movement.
"I called the US ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, on Sunday and told him on behalf of Speaker Berri that Hezbollah will be ready to totally commit to a comprehensive ceasefire and we are ready to guarantee it," Hamdan told Axios. ...
"The proposal we received was no Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel and that in return Israel will not bomb Beirut and then gradually the ceasefire will expand to other areas," Hamdan said. "Speaker Berri's reply was, "Why a partial ceasefire? Let's have a full ceasefire."
Why did Hezbollah reverse course? As I mentioned earlier, it was because Trump had reversed course. Trump had been restraining Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, hoping to preserve both 'ceasefires' to allow for negotiations. Yesterday, though, Trump made it clear that he was growing tired of Hezbollah's missile attacks under cover of the ceasefire, and that he'd give Netanyahu a green light for a full-scale war:
Reports had earlier said Israel was lobbying the US to grant permission to resume massive strikes on the terror group’s stronghold, and that an American official had hinted that such a green light could be coming. Israel has been striking Beirut, but only sporadically and in specific circumstances.
Reports also said Monday morning that Hezbollah has rejected a new US proposal for de-escalation in Lebanon that would have required the terror group to halt fire first, followed by Israel.
Following up on the joint statement, both Netanyahu and Katz reiterated that the terror group’s headquarters in Dahiyeh are not “off-limits.”
“There will be no situation in which Hezbollah attacks our cities and citizens while the terror headquarters in Dahiyeh remain off-limits,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “We are continuing to deepen our operations on the ground in southern Lebanon, eliminating Hezbollah strongholds. Hezbollah is on the run. We are determined to restore security to the residents of the north, just as we did for the residents of the south,” he said.
That is apparently what prompted the Iranian threat to end talks, but also prompted Hezbollah to back down. One key point is that the IDF will not retreat from its current positions as a condition of the cessation:
Israeli official to Al Hadath: Israel will not strike Beirut, but forces will hold their current positions.— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 1, 2026
Hezbollah has since told media outlets that it expects the ceasefire to lead to a withdrawal, but the fact that it's not a condition of their compliance shows the desperate strait in which they placed themselves, pun intended. Hezbollah clearly expected Iran to prevail with their Strait of Hormuz strategy of ransoming the global economy, a bet that so far has failed badly. In fact, the ceasefire with Iran has allowed the Israelis to concentrate much more on Hamas and Hezbollah, while the US Navy enforces the blockade of Iran.
The question now is whether this has any impact on the talks with Iran. Trump claims that Iran has returned to negotiations:
Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
"A rapid pace" is a little difficult to believe, given the slowness of the proposals and counterproposals for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the table at the moment. This does make it clear, though, that Trump rejected Iran's counterproposal, even if he didn't announce it. If Iran had provided an acceptable response, Trump would have announced a deal at the end of last week when he received their counteroffer.
The sequence of this ceasefire also offers an insight into the leverage of all sides in these talks. Hezbollah had to reverse itself today when Trump made it clear that he was inclined to let the Israelis go scorched-earth on Hezbollah. If Iran didn't like that, he told reporters earlier today, then silence might be preferable to talks that were going nowhere. Only at that point, with IAF bombers warming up and Trump hinting loudly that he would let Israel move to full-scale war, did Hezbollah reverse their previously defiant position and tell Berri that they would stand down. And now, just as suddenly, Iran has apparently returned to the table.
Given the sequence, it seems pretty clear that the IRGC ran a bluff on Trump with an empty threat to expand the war to the Red Sea. Hezbollah didn't have the time to let that bluff ride, though, and had to sue for peace, at least momentarily. Perhaps that will convince the IRGC to cut a deal on Trump's terms, but ... I'll believe that when I see it, especially when it comes to compliance and verification.
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Actually the above report did not age well.
This was posted at PJ MEDIA at 10:10 PM on June 1, 2026:
[EXCERPT]
About an hour after promising President Donald Trump that it would stop firing, Hezbollah launched missiles at Israeli civilians. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is tired of the world telling him that he is the obstacle to peace.
Hezbollah just killed another young Israeli soldier, and the weekend was punctuated with missile attacks on such civilian targets as beaches and shopping malls in northern Israel. In some Israeli towns, a majority of buildings have suffered damage or been destroyed by terrorist attacks. Trump insisted that Israel halt a strike on terrorist targets Monday morning, saying Hezbollah promised him an end to hostilities, but almost immediately afterwards, Hezbollah launched more missiles.
Netanyahu posted in Hebrew late on Monday, “Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens—Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.”
SEE HERE: https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2061531248573460655?s=46&t=wDD9h6AWvM1P0tiUGr3o-w
Despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah has been launching rockets, missiles and drones at Israeli communities while actively sabotaging diplomatic efforts between Israel and Lebanon.
Israel's actions in Lebanon are aimed at removing an ongoing threat and ensuring the security of our people.
pic.twitter.com/QYoIdHVL8a— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 1, 2026
Evert time Trump says they’re about to make a deal Israel launches an attack to blow it up. Prove me wrong.
RE: Evert time Trump says they’re about to make a deal Israel launches an attack to blow it up. Prove me wrong.
You’re not wrong, but you have the sequence and the blame reversed. Israel HAD to launch an attack because Hezbollah ALWAYS VIOLATES THE CEASEFIRE.
you are wrong on the face of it. No proof is needed, since your statement is absurd. The truth is exactly the opposite.
Rubbish.
This so-called “ceasefire” means two things:
1) Only Israel has to refrain from fighting and therefore absorb incomming Hezbollah drones and missiles. Israelis are under the gun while Hezbollah has a free hand.
2) Iran has managed to link Lebanon to their negotiations with the USA and Trump has been sucker-punched once again.
This is very sad when you tell your ally, (Israel) keep taking hits while we talk.
Hezbollah “promised”?
Iran “promised”?
What Bizarro world are we living in?
You don’t hear much about that.
Just like the FACT that on 7 October Hamas attacked Israel, killed something like 1,400 people and KIDNAPPING around 400, was drowned out by literally a pitty fest for the Palestinians when Israel retaliated.
Times are changing, I wrote about this years ago. With the changing demographics in the US and Europe, many of the Middle Eastern nations become far more important to us than Israel in economic terms (oil and other trade), many of these nations having substantial clout politically in DC (lobbying etc), our MSM being heavily influenced by what is a Muslim or Arab perspective, Israel is losing the PR war not because they aren’t trying.
It would be best to unleash Israel and keep sending them ammunition as fast as rhey can use it.
These Iranian a-holes leaders care NOTHING for the Iranian people. They can't stop the US military so they hide underground. They are drunk with power and won't give it up. Hah! They already HAVE given up their power. They are COWARDS and won't admit it.
Same ole story, innit?
...it has promised to guarantee that it would be implemented...
Promised to guarantee that it would be? BS, obliterate Hezbollah. There's a guaranteed implementation.
Ceasefire broken in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
CC
You’re wrong. Hezbollah violates every ceasefire just like their sugar daddy Iran does.
Trust, but verify.
sad to say: DJT has fallen into the Iranians’ trap.
Of course they will use this time to reload, recruit, and prepare for the next campaign.
All muslims lie. Our foreign policy must take that into consideration. It makes no sense to play by the rules when the other side has never demonstrated that they will also.
Israel has a Deep State, too.
We ignore that at our peril.
<< Hezbollah “promised”? Iran “promised”? What Bizarro world are we living in? >>
It’s beyond ridiculous. Most observers (stateside) have just tuned out at this point. But that’s hard to do in Israel when living under constant threat.
Israeli civilians (students) are attending classes, preparing for their Matriculation exams and running to shelters all the time. This is no way to live.
It wouldn’t be so bad if Israel was allowed to level the Hezbollah stronghold in the Beirut neighborhood of “Dachia” but nooooooo, that might violate the terms of the pretend ceasefire. If Hezbollah would stop bombarding Israel’s north then Israel would stop advancing inside of Lebanon.
Lebanon truly wants peace but cannot oust Hezbollah. SO the battles go on.
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