1 month ago
11
The high-profile assassinations of Hezbollah commander Faud Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran have raised fears of an all-out war in the Middle East read more
 "Iran warns Hezbollah will attack deeper in Israel & target civilians")
Hezbollah fighters take part in a military exercise. It is an Iran-backed, anti-Israel terrorist group based in Lebanon. (Photo: Reuters)
Iran has said that Lebanon-based Hezbollah will no longer stick to attacking military targets in Israel.
Since October 2023 when Hamas triggered the ongoing war in the Middle East with an all-out invasion of Israel, Hezbollah has clashed with Israel on a nearly-daily basis and has frequently mounted attacks in the country’s north that have devasted the region. It is part of the groups opposed to Israel in the region which are backed by Iran.
Following the Israeli assassination of Faud Shukr, the military chief of Hezbollah, in Lebanese capital Beirut, Iran said the understanding that had governed the conflict so far are no longer in force.
Now, Hezbollah will strike deeper into Israel than it hit so far, said Iran.
‘Hezbollah’s attacks will be broader and deeper’
Iran on Saturday told the United Nations (UN) that Hezbollah’s attacks will now be “broader and deeper”.
In a broader statement to CBS News, Iran said that there had been an “unwritten understanding” between Hezbollah and Israel —whom it addressed as “regime” as it rejects the existence of the State of Israel— that civilian areas were out of bounds, but it was not off the table.
The statement read: “The [Israeli] regime’s attack on Dahieh in Beirut and the targeting of a residential building marked a deviation from these boundaries. We anticipate that, in its response, Hezbollah will choose both broader and deeper targets, and will not restrict itself solely to military targets and means.”
The Tuesday’s strike in Beirut that killed Shukr had raised fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezabollah — something the two sides had avoided so far. Hours later, in the early hours of Wednesday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran. Both Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for the killing and vowed revenge.
The two high-profile assassinations, particularly that of Haniyeh in Tehran where he was as state guest, have raised fears of an all-out war between Israel, Iran, and Iranian proxies in the Middle East.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·