Israel/Lebanon Conflict Risks Drawing in Iran: RBC

Ratcheting tensions between Israel and Lebanon risk escalating the Middle East conflict by drawing Iran into direct confrontation according to RBC’s Head of Commodity Research Helima Croft in a CNBC interview.

• Croft warned that once Israel finishes its Rafah operations in the coming weeks, it risks turning its attentions to the northern border and attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• “Does the Netanyahu government decide they want to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon?” Croft said.
• Croft warns that Iran may do more to support Hezbollah than they have done for Hamas and the Houthi’s as it is a more important group for them.
• “We have not derisked the Red Sea at a time where we are looking at the situation in Lebanon,” Croft added.
• “The pathway to Iran joining this war, leads through Lebanon,” Croft said, concluding, “Mid-July might be the point where we know where this is heading.”