Hezbollah backs away from conflict with Israel after Lebanese government warning

Hezbollah has said that it will go back to the Lebanese state before making a decision on war or peace with Israel, effectively ruling out any armed response to Israel’s strikes on its key ally and benefactor Iran.

Lebanese government sources told The New Arab’s affiliate Syria TV that the Lebanese presidency had earlier contacted Hezbollah to find out its position on Israel’s surprise attack on Iran, which killed key military leaders and injured dozens of civilians.

The sources said that Hezbollah had told Lebanese army officials that it understood the concerns of the state, the army, and the Lebanese people and would not “be led towards Israel’s aim of taking the region to full-scale war”.

They added that Lebanese political and military officials had also “clearly and strongly” told Hezbollah that the “Lebanese state would not allow a war with Israel this time”, adding that Lebanon had given assurances to Arab and other regional countries regarding this.

Hezbollah began a low-level conflict with Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza War in 2023. Israel escalated this into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing key Hezbollah officials including the group’s longtime Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, severely weakening the group.

The war ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, under which Hezbollah had to withdraw from all its positions south of the Litani River.

Following the Israeli attacks on Iran, the Lebanese army increased its deployment south of Litani beginning a widespread combing operation.

It also deployed in force near Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, particularly in the south of the country.

In a statement, Hezbollah condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran, saying they were a “dangerous violation of all red lines”.

It also expressed its “full solidarity with the leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.