Iran-backed terror leader Hassan Nasrallah has told Iran that Hezbollah will independently engage in a war against Israel should the conflict in Gaza spread to Lebanon, according to a report by Reuters.
The news outlet reported the disclosure by official sources that Esmail Qaani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, traveled to Beirut in February for discussions regarding the potential threat of a major Israeli escalation across its northern border. In the meeting, Nasrallah told the Iranian general that he was prepared to engage the IDF without any assistance, saying that "this is our battle."
The conversation was reportedly the third time that the two individuals have met in person since the October 7 massacre in southern Israel.
The reporting comes as Jerusalem is increasingly considering a full-scale offensive against the militant group in light of their continued rocket attacks on Jewish communities and military bases in Israel's north. These bombardments have killed civilians and soldiers, displaced thousands from their homes, damaged property, and forced the IDF to deploy combat units away from other active situations.
On March 5, Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, told a U.S. regional envoy that these incursions are “bringing us closer to a critical point in the decision-making regarding our military activities in Lebanon,” and that Hezbollah is “dragging the parties to a dangerous escalation.”
Hezbollah is widely regarded as one of Tehran's many proxy militias in the region.
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