Iran threatens Israel with military response over Lebanon aggression

Iran has issued a stern warning of military retaliation against Israel, stating it will not hesitate to respond if Israeli aggression in Lebanon persists. "If these crimes continue, not only will we halt the negotiation process, but we will also retaliate against the Zionist entity," declared Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, during a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri.

Amidst what Iran describes as the "unleashing" of the Israeli army in Lebanon, which has reportedly killed over 3,000 people since March 2, and following recent threats by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to bomb Beirut, Iran has escalated its rhetoric. The central headquarters Khatam al-Anbiya issued a statement advising residents in northern Israel to evacuate the area should Israel proceed with bombing the Lebanese capital.

"Given the repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist entity, if this threat (to bomb Beirut) is carried out, we warn the residents of northern Israel and the military settlements in the occupied territories that they must evacuate the area if they do not want to be affected (by Iranian retaliation)," read a statement from the high Iranian military authority, as reported by Fars news agency.

Earlier, Iran had threatened to suspend indirect negotiations with Washington in protest against what it termed "massive violations" of the April 17 ceasefire agreement by the Israeli army in Lebanon. The "Resistance Front and Iran are determined to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, to punish the Zionists and their allies," reported Tasnim news agency.

During his call with Berri, Ghalibaf assured Lebanon of the Islamic Republic's unwavering support, stating, "The ties between Iran and Lebanon are unbreakable. Your blood and our blood are one." He emphasized Iran's efforts to halt Israeli aggression and reiterated the threat of retaliation if the "crimes" continue, alongside halting negotiations. Ghalibaf also reaffirmed Iran's commitment to including Lebanon in an agreement with Trump, aiming for a ceasefire throughout Lebanon, particularly in the south.