The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed American officials that Israel felt compelled to utilize military action to return its citizens to the North. An unnamed American official was cited stating that 'US presidential envoy Amos Hochstein pleaded with Netanyahu not to wage war on Lebanon.' Reflecting on Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah, which resulted in over 3,500 casualties within Hezbollah, one can see that Israel's strategic calculations have changed drastically. Hezbollah would do well to consider the internal dynamics within Israel. The aftermath of the Gaza Strip conflicts and Hamas has led to a radical shift in Israel's stance on threats emanating from Lebanon. Hezbollah staunchly refuses to retreat from its reckless engagement in its 'war of support,' heightening risks to itself and Lebanon at large. With the United States seemingly losing hope in persuading Hezbollah to cease hostilities or in forming a coherent Lebanese stance to pressure Hezbollah, it is unlikely to oppose a wide-scale Israeli offensive in Lebanon. Hezbollah's ambitions now contribute to its vulnerability. Its significant presence and role as Iran's vanguard in the region provoke concerns that transcend Lebanon, affecting regional and possibly international stability. Iran, which continues its negotiations with the United States in an unspecified third country, has experienced significant setbacks among its regional proxies. This includes the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran during an official visit. Iran's stance recalls the mentality of an old Isfahani merchant haggling in a bazaar: It's a time for deals. Consequently, Hamas and Hezbollah have been 'left' to their own devices in their confrontation with Israel. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, who succeeded Qasem Soleimani, was deeply involved in supporting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and even managed to recruit Salafi-jihadist movements for their cause, similar to previous indirect actions by the IRGC in Syria. However, recent developments indicate that Iran has withdrawn its support from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran seems intent on securing a deal that would lift its economic sanctions, attract foreign investment, and maintain its allies as influential political entities in their respective countries. There is undoubtedly a price for such a deal, and the unfolding scenes in the Middle East seem to bear this out.