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Iran warns US against Israeli attack on Hezbollah-held ridge in southern Lebanon, officials say

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Unnamed sources Ongoing story
  • Iran warned the United States that it would respond forcefully if Israel launched a full-scale offensive against the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, according to three officials briefed on the message.
  • Regional officials said Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including at least two senior officers, were positioned alongside Hezbollah fighters at the ridge.
  • Hezbollah and Israel provided no confirmation of the reported message, while a White House official said the account was inaccurate.

Iran has warned Washington that an Israeli assault on a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon could trigger a large-scale Iranian attack, according to three officials briefed on the message. The warning places Iranian personnel and Hezbollah fighters at the center of one of the most contested areas in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The message, delivered around mid-August, concerned the Ali al-Taher ridge, a mountainous position overlooking southeastern Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said Hezbollah had built an underground command center and stored weapons there. Hezbollah has publicly said it controls the hill and will resist any Israeli advance, while its officials have referred to a facility at the site without providing details.

Natural conclusion

· Hezbollah media officeHezbollah declined to confirm or deny the warning but said such a message would be expected concerning the ridge.

Two regional officials briefed by Tehran said more than a dozen members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were sheltering with Hezbollah fighters at the ridge. They said at least two of the Iranian personnel were senior officers. A third official with direct knowledge of the message said Israel had delayed an assault after pressure from the United States.

Israel has occupied areas south of Ali al-Taher and publicly identified the ridge as one of its primary operational focuses. Despite a ceasefire announced in June, the Israeli military has said Hezbollah continues to operate around the position. Hezbollah’s media office did not confirm or deny Iran’s warning, but called such a message a “natural conclusion” given the ridge’s importance.

Iran considers any Israeli move on the ground in southern Lebanon, especially territorial expansion, a major violation of the Islamabad Agreement.

· Hezbollah media officeThe statement referred to the June US-Iran memorandum that included a Lebanon ceasefire.

“Iran considers any Israeli move on the ground in southern Lebanon, especially territorial expansion, a major violation of the Islamabad Agreement,” the media office said, referring to the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding that included a Lebanon ceasefire. Iran fired missiles toward Israel in early June after attacks on Hezbollah targets near the Lebanese capital.

A White House official rejected Reuters’ account, saying, “this is not accurate.” Iran’s mission in Geneva, the US Defense Department, Oman’s foreign ministry and the Israeli military did not immediately comment.

This is not accurate.

· White House officialThe official rejected Reuters' questions about the reported Iranian message and US pressure on Israel.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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