Iran Warns Israel Against Waging War on Lebanon

Members of Lebanon's Hezbollah stand near a flag with a picture of slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the killing of Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US attack, in a southern Lebanese village
Members of Lebanon's Hezbollah stand near a flag with a picture of slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the killing of Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US attack, in a southern Lebanese village

Iran's mission to the UN in New York warned Israel on Friday about the consequences of waging a full-blown war on Tehran-backed Hezbollah of Lebanon.

A statement posted on the Iranian mission's X account said Hezbollah "has the capability to defend itself and Lebanon."

"Perhaps the time for the self-annihilation of this illegitimate regime has come," it said.

"Any imprudent decision by the occupying Israeli regime to save itself could plunge the region into a new war, the consequence of which would be the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure as well as that of the 1948 occupied territories," the Iranian mission warned.

It also called Israel the "ultimate loser" of the possible war.

The statement came after Israeli officials told the US they are planning to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel in preparation for a possible offensive against Hezbollah.

However, US officials are worried that Hezbollah may overwhelm Israel’s air defense including the Iron Dome.

Tel Aviv has communicated to the US concerns of the vulnerability of Israeli air defense against precision-guided munitions and missiles from Iran-backed Hezbollah, three US officials have told CNN.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday that his forces, armed and trained by Iran, can target anywhere in Israel, in the event of a full-blown war.

In his televised speech Wednesday, Nasrallah said “there will be no place safe from our missiles and our drones” in Israel.

One day earlier, the Hezbollah-affiliated outlets had published footage that they claimed were shot by a drone flying over residential and military sites deep in Israeli territory.

The Lebanese group is widely believed to have amassed more than 100,000 missiles, and its leader has repeatedly boasted about weapons that he claims have not been used so far in its eight months of low-key but constant fighting with Israel.

Hezbollah has been firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with fellow Iran-backed militant group Hamas since the Gaza war erupted in October, forcing tens of thousands to flee homes in Israel.