Reuters: Iran warns US of large-scale attack

Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully, on a large scale, to any Israeli offensive against a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are sheltering alongside Hezbollah fighters, Reuters reports, citing three officials.

The outlet said the message, delivered last month, highlights Iran’s continued direct involvement in ground fighting in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against Israeli attacks there as the regional war enters its seventh month.

Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons storage facilities inside the Ali al-Taher ridge, which overlooks southeastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese security sources. The ridge has become one of the most contested positions in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Hezbollah stated publicly that it controls the hill and will confront any Israeli advance. Its officials have referred to a “facility” there but have declined to provide further details.

The Israeli military has occupied swathes of territory south of Ali al-Taher and has identified the ridge as one of its “primary operational focuses” in public statements.

In its message to Washington, Tehran warned that any full-scale Israeli offensive against the ridge would be met with a large-scale Iranian attack, the three regional officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hezbollah declined to comment on whether Iranian forces were present at Ali al-Taher. Asked about the message and whether the United States had pressured Israel not to attack the ridge, a White House official noted that “this is not accurate.”

There was no immediate comment from Iran’s permanent mission in Geneva, the US Defence Department or Oman’s foreign ministry. The Israeli military also declined to comment.

According to a Lebanese source briefed by Hezbollah, the group’s fighters could access their positions from the northern side of the ridge.

Reuters could not independently verify the military situation at Ali al-Taher, which Israel’s military has included within a self-declared security zone occupied by its troops and off-limits to Lebanese citizens.

Despite Iran’s warning, the Lebanese source and a senior Lebanese security official made clear that an Israeli military operation to capture the ridge remained possible in the coming weeks.

Hezbollah clarified that any large-scale attack on Ali al-Taher would mean a return to full-scale war and could result in missiles being fired at communities in northern Israel.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov