Report: Smotrich Proposes Dahiyeh Response to Iran Missiles

Smotrich’s Iran strategy would shift Israel’s response away from direct exchanges with Tehran and toward a heavy price on Hezbollah, according to journalist Amit Segal.

Under the reported proposal, Israel would respond to every missile fired from Iranian territory by destroying dozens of buildings in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. The aim, according to the report, would be to make Iran’s proxy pay directly for Tehran’s attacks.

Pressure on Hezbollah

Smotrich reportedly argued that such a move would give Israel legitimacy to destroy Lebanese villages near the Israeli border. He said this would immediately strengthen security for northern residents.

According to the report, the strategy would also create pressure inside Hezbollah itself. A severe blow to the organization could push Hezbollah to demand that its patrons in Tehran stop the fire.

That pressure, the report said, could then force Iran to show greater flexibility in diplomatic talks with the United States.

A Pro-American Calculation

The reported plan also considers the international arena, especially Washington.

According to the report, Smotrich believes the Trump administration would welcome the move. The proposal assumes that President Donald Trump supports bold initiatives that change realities on the ground, giving Israel significant credit in Washington.

In that framing, the plan is not only military. It also seeks to align Israeli security needs with America’s strategic interest in weakening Iran and its terror network.

Saving Iran Strikes

Smotrich also emphasized that the IDF should preserve its direct strike capabilities against Iran.

According to the report, those capabilities should be saved for one lethal and final blow against Iran’s energy and economic infrastructure. He argued that Israel should not waste valuable resources on standard and worn-out “response equations.”

The proposal reflects a hard strategic question for Israel: how to deter Tehran without being trapped in endless, predictable rounds of missile fire and retaliation.