Hezbollah official says will not intervene in event of “limited” US strikes on Iran: AFP
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- A Hezbollah official stated the group will not intervene militarily if US strikes on Iran remain "limited," maintaining a defensive posture consistent with its behavior during previous conflicts in 2024 and 2025.
- The group warned it will launch an "existential battle" if the US attempts to topple the Iranian regime or targets Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, despite pressure from the Lebanese government to avoid a "new adventure" that could devastate national infrastructure.
A Hezbollah official said Wednesday the Iran-backed group would not intervene militarily if the United States launches “limited” strikes on Iran, warning that targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would cross a “red line.”
Conditional stance on escalation
Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the official, who requested anonymity, said: “If US strikes on Iran are limited, Hezbollah’s position is not to intervene militarily. But if the goal is to topple the Iranian regime or target the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the group will intervene.”
He stressed that any attempt on Khamenei’s life “cannot be tolerated,” adding that a war aimed at toppling Iran’s leadership would likely prompt ‘Israel’ to launch a parallel offensive against Lebanon.
“In that scenario, Hezbollah’s involvement would not be limited, but an existential battle,” he said.
Rising tensions in the region
Washington has been steadily deploying significant military assets to the Gulf and the broader Middle East, amid weeks of threats to strike Tehran if ongoing talks fail. A third round of negotiations is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva.
Lebanese authorities fear Hezbollah could be drawn into a wider regional escalation, particularly against ‘Israel’. The group possesses a large arsenal, including long-range and heavy missiles.
Recent conflicts shape strategy
Hezbollah did not respond militarily when ‘Israel’ launched attacks on Iran in June, during which US forces also targeted Iranian nuclear sites.
Last month, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned that any new war against Iran “could ignite the region.”
Since a ceasefire in November 2024 ended more than a year of fighting between Hezbollah and ‘Israel’, Qassem has repeatedly said the group remains in a “defensive position,” backing the Lebanese state, which has expanded army deployment in the south and tasked it with disarming the group.
Ongoing strikes fuel pressure
Despite the ceasefire, ‘Israel’ continues to carry out deadly strikes, saying they aim to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities.
Air raids on eastern Lebanon on Friday killed eight Hezbollah members, including at least one commander, whom ‘Israel’ said belonged to the group’s missile unit.
The official warned that Hezbollah’s restraint “has limits,” adding: “Israeli attacks cannot continue indefinitely without accountability or response.”
On Tuesday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji urged Hezbollah not to “enter any new adventure,” warning that such involvement could expose Lebanon to further destruction.
He said Lebanon had received warnings that any intervention might prompt ‘Israel’ to target infrastructure that was largely spared during the last war.
