Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stern warning Monday following Israel’s decision to expand military operations against Hezbollah, claiming the actions violate existing ceasefire agreements after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz authorized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to target Hezbollah positions in and around Beirut.
Through a social media post on X, Araghchi stated: “The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and clarified that breaking the agreement on one front would constitute a violation across all areas.
The Iranian official cautioned, “The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation.”
These threats emerged as Israeli leadership indicated plans for expanded operations against Hezbollah. On Monday morning, Netanyahu and Katz announced that Hezbollah command centers in Beirut’s Dahieh neighborhood would no longer receive protection from Israeli military strikes.
“There will be no situation in which Hezbollah attacks our cities and citizens while the terror headquarters in Dahieh remain off-limits,” Netanyahu declared in a recorded statement.
The Prime Minister also noted that Israeli military units were broadening their activities in southern Lebanon while focusing on Hezbollah facilities.
“We are continuing to deepen our operations on the ground in southern Lebanon, eliminating Hezbollah strongholds. Hezbollah is on the run. We are determined to restore security to the residents of the north, just as we did for the residents of the south,” Netanyahu stated.
Previously, Israel had avoided attacking the Lebanese capital following requests from the Trump administration.
During a separate military event, Katz announced that the IDF was maintaining both aerial and ground campaigns against Hezbollah while making “significant gains” against the organization.
“If there is no quiet in the north, there will be no quiet in Beirut … We will not allow a situation in which our communities and citizens are harmed while calm is maintained in Beirut,” Katz declared.
Katz outlined the military’s goal to “turn the Litani area into a zone under IDF security control, free of weapons and terrorists.”
These escalating threats occurred while combat between Israel and Hezbollah persists despite ceasefire arrangements and active negotiations in Washington.
A key disagreement centers on Hezbollah’s unwillingness to surrender weapons, despite ceasefire terms mandating the armed organization relinquish its arsenal.
