As Hezbollah vows to defend Iran, Lebanon braces for potential spillover
Lebanon once again finds itself preparing for Hezbollah’s involvement in a looming US-Iranian military confrontation.
BEIRUT — Lebanon is bracing for possible spillover from a looming military confrontation between the United States and Iran, as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah signaled readiness to defend Tehran. The tensions coincide with escalating Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon ahead of a potential new war.
What happened: Many Lebanese are fleeing areas surrounding the capital Beirut, the local An-Nahar newspaper reported Thursday, amid growing concerns that Hezbollah could open a new battlefront with Israel to support its ally Iran in the event of US strikes. Such a scenario would likely trigger Israeli retaliation inside Lebanon.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem alluded Monday to his group’s readiness to engage in a military confrontation with Israel in support of Iran.
In a televised speech, Qassem said Iran has repeatedly withstood US threats. “Iran has persevered and will continue to persevere; it is always victorious and cannot be defeated,” he said.
