According to Reuters, two high-ranking Lebanese officials announced on Tuesday that Israel has issued a warning to Lebanon. Should Hezbollah become involved in any military confrontation between the United States and Iran, Israel would significantly target the country, including vital civilian infrastructure like the airport.
The Lebanese officials, who requested anonymity, indicated that this message from Israel was conveyed indirectly. Neither the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Lebanese presidency responded immediately to requests for comments.Gulf Currents Newsletter provides the latest geopolitical, energy, and financial updates from the region. On Thursday, Iran and the United States are set to meet in Geneva for the third round of nuclear negotiations, as concerns grow over the potential for military conflict.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, whose government has sought to disarm Hezbollah since taking office a year ago, urged the group not to drag Lebanon into ‘another adventure’ in an interview published on Tuesday.Hezbollah’s new leader, Naeem Qassem, stated in a televised address last month that the group is ‘not neutral’ in the dispute between Washington and Tehran and is ‘exposed to potential actions.’ He affirmed, ‘We are determined to defend ourselves. At the right time, we will decide how to act, whether to intervene or not.’
The last conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel began following Hezbollah’s support for Hamas at the onset of the Gaza conflict in 2023, leading to months of border clashes before Israel launched an attack.Prime Minister Salam warned Hezbollah, stating, ‘The Gaza adventure has imposed a heavy cost on Lebanon. We hope not to be drawn into such an adventure again.’ This statement was made during an interview with the newspaper Nidaa al-Watan.
Simultaneously, the U.S. State Department announced the evacuation of non-essential personnel and eligible family members from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.Since the U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in 2024 Israel has routinely targeted identified Hezbollah positions in Lebanon accusing the group of attempting to rearm. According to Lebanese statistics Israeli attacks have resulted in approximately 400 deaths in Lebanon since the ceasefire. Hezbollah claims to have adhered to the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
In January the Lebanese Army announced it had taken operational control of the southern region to establish ‘the unipolarity of arms’ a move supported by the U.S. Israel described this effort as a ‘promising start’ but deemed it insufficient.
