Iran's Revolutionary Guards' role in Lebanon conflict grows clearer

Evidence is mounting that Iran's Revolutionary Guards are directly managing the ongoing conflict in Lebanon alongside Hezbollah, though the precise scale and nature of their involvement remain unclear. Accounts suggest the presence of Iranian personnel and officers in Lebanon, serving in both command positions and on the front lines.

In March, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took steps to control the Revolutionary Guards' access to Beirut, requesting authorities prevent any military or security activities by their members ahead of potential deportations. The Cabinet also reinstated visa requirements for Iranians entering Lebanon. A significant indicator of the Revolutionary Guards' deep involvement was the death of several officers in an Israeli strike on the Ramada Hotel in Beirut on March 8. Iran officially announced the deaths, with its UN representative stating four Iranian diplomats were killed, later mourned in Iran as Revolutionary Guards officers.

Information obtained in Beirut indicated that these Iranians had entered the capital using legitimate Lebanese passports under different names. Additional passports linked to the Revolutionary Guards were discovered in the targeted hotel room. This discovery prompted MP Ghada Ayoub to file a report with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, seeking an investigation into allegations of Lebanese passports being issued improperly to individuals connected with armed groups. The report also cited evidence suggesting Lebanese travel documents were used to conceal the true identities of Revolutionary Guards personnel.

Further reports pointed to direct Iranian participation in combat operations. A senior Israeli security source reportedly stated that several Iranian officers were present in southern Lebanon during the battle for the Ali al-Taher Heights. These officers allegedly held key positions in managing the battle and coordinating operations on the Lebanese front. According to this information, Iran's insistence on halting the Israeli ground operation was partly driven by concern for the safety of these officers, fearing their capture if the advance continued. Additionally, recent social media posts attributed to the Revolutionary Guards offering salaries of up to $1,000 to those willing to fight alongside Hezbollah were seen as another sign of the extensive Iranian involvement in the conflict.

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Four Iranian diplomats were killed in the attack.