Iran’s acting FM threatens Israel with 'hell without return' in Lebanon

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister threatened that Lebanon will become "a hell without return for the Zionists" if a full-scale war breaks out with Iran's proxy Hezbollah.

Ali Bagheri Kani made the remarks as fears of a third Lebanon war loom strong with drum-beating rhetoric from both sides.

Lebanon joined the war against Israel after Iran-backed Hamas's attack of October 7, in which 1,200 mostly civilians were killed in Israel and a further 240 taken hostage.

Since then, over 3,300 projectiles have been fired by Hezbollah towards Israel leaving 200,000 people displaced on both sides of the border.

It is a continuation of the war-mongering from Iran's government, with an aide to the supreme leader warning this week that Iran's proxies across the region would support the Lebanese militant movement with “all means.”

“All Lebanese people, Arab countries, and members of the axis of resistance will support Lebanon against Israel," he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Iran's strongest and largest proxy, Hezbollah, is believed to have stockpiled over 200,000 missiles. Its leader has frequently boasted about advanced weaponry that has not yet been deployed in its persistent, albeit low-intensity, conflict with Israel over the past eight months.

Recently, Hezbollah has escalated its attacks, employing exploding drones and low-flying missiles. At least 11 civilians in Israel and dozens in south Lebanon have been killed. Around 400 Hezbollah militants and at least 15 Israeli soldiers have also died in the border war.

The assaults have occasionally overwhelmed Israel's short-range Iron Dome defense system, causing significant damage. Many of the drone attacks have resulted in extensive forest fires in Israel's agriculture-dependent northern regions.

The last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah occurred in 2006 following the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.

The war ended with the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for Hezbollah's disarmament—a mandate that has not been enforced as the terror group has only continued to expand and has continually breached the buffer zone of the UN agreement.