Israel has warned that Lebanon could face a “disaster” if it fails to rein in the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, as tensions in West Asia continue to escalate.
According to the report, the crisis intensified after a joint US-Israel strike on Iran in which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Iran has since carried out retaliatory attacks targeting US military bases in the region and Israel.
Hezbollah, based in Lebanon and aligned with Iran, also launched attacks on Israel. In response, Israel struck Lebanon, with the report saying more than 300 people were killed and large numbers were displaced, forcing many to leave the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah has been conducting repeated attacks and argued that it is Lebanon’s responsibility to implement a 2024 agreement to disarm the group. He said Israel would take all necessary steps to protect its communities and citizens.
Separately, the Israeli military warned Iranian representatives in Lebanon to leave immediately. Following the warning, the report said more than 150 people, including Iranian diplomats and their families, departed Lebanon.
