Iran's Acting FM Issues Renewed Threats Against Israel

Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani issued renewed warnings against Israeli military operations in Gaza and potential actions in Lebanon through its proxy groups.

Bagheri, speaking to CNN TÜRK, said, "They [Israel] should not forget the defeat in 2006. If they want to fall from the Gaza swamp into the Lebanese well, we do not recommend it," he stated, referring to the second Lebanon war which came to an end after UN Resolution 1701. 

Bagheri's comments were made at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization of the Eight Developing Countries (D-8), during which he called for an outright boycott of Israel and levied heavy accusations against Western nations, particularly the USA and Europe, accusing them of abetting what he referred to as a "massacre" in Gaza. 

The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, Iran's largest and most powerful proxy, has recently intensified its conflict with Israel, which was triggered after the October 7 attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, the Lebanese proxy joining the bombardment of Iran's archenemy. Rising numbers of drones and missiles are being launched towards Israeli territory with mass fires being ignited across northern Israel. The conflict in the north has left 100,000 Israelis displaced and similar numbers displaced from southern Lebanon.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Wednesday morning that Israel is "prepared for an extremely powerful action in the north" to counter the escalating assaults.

Israeli intelligence estimates indicate that Hezbollah has stockpiled approximately 150,000 rockets and missiles in southern Lebanon, all poised to target Israel.