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In Israel, the American operation in Venezuela is interpreted as a direct warning message from President Donald Trump to Iran, at a time when the possibility of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation to disarm Hezbollah is being considered.
Unlike the vast majority of world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly congratulated President Trump for the military operation in Venezuela, calling it "a courageous historic act in the service of justice and freedom."
The official Israeli position is closely linked to the strong relations that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has had with the political leadership of Iran, as well as with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey. Israeli media also highlighted the fact that Trump, at the beginning of his speech – in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth – recalled that on January 3, 2020, during his first term, the US had eliminated Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the elite Al-Quds force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in Baghdad, through a drone strike.
In this context, the developments in Caracas have been commented on in Israel in connection with the anti-regime protests in Iran, which are continuing for the eighth consecutive day. Israeli analysts assess that what happened in Venezuela constitutes a strong political signal towards Tehran. It is recalled that just a few hours before the operation, Trump warned Iran that, if peaceful protesters were killed, the US would be "ready to intervene".
Attention to Hezbollah
Beyond the impact that events in Venezuela could have on already strained US-Iran relations, Israel's main interest centers on the delicate situation on the front with Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is widely acknowledged in Israel that the Iran-Venezuela strategic alliance has served as a source of financial support not only for Lebanese Hezbollah, but also for other regional allies of Tehran, including Shiite militias in Syria, Iraq, and the Houthi rebels.
Israeli media outlets point out that the deadline for the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah expired on December 31 without concrete results, which has increased speculation about a possible large-scale IDF operation to disarm it, with the knowledge and approval of the White House.
Two days ago, Israeli state television reported that US officials had asked Israel to "wait a little longer" before taking any action in Lebanon, without providing a clear explanation. Today, it is being assessed in Israel that this request for a wait may have been related to the warning messages that Washington intended to send to Tehran after the dramatic developments in Caracas.
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