Iran FM heads to Lebanon amid Hezbollah-Israel fighting, Gaza truce

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is starting a regional tour following the announcement of a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, the Nournews agency affiliated to Iran's top security body reported on Wednesday.

Israel's government and Hamas agreed to a four-day pause in fighting to allow the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon today.

"The visit is in line with Iran’s diplomatic efforts to halt the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza, lift the blockade and send humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Gaza," Nournews said.

Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Lebanon also coincides with ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Israel-Lebanon border seeing daily exchanges of fire since Israel's war on Gaza began.

Israel had been pounding the besieged Gaza Strip since 7 October, killing more than 14,000 people, including almost 6,000 children.

It launched the air and ground operation after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.

🧵Day 47 of Israel's war on Gaza:

👉Israel & Hamas agree to a 4-day truce + prisoner exchange deal
👉 50 Israeli hostages to be released; 150 Palestinian prisoners to be released
👉Death toll: 14,128 people killed, incl. 5,840 children

🔴 Live coverage: https://t.co/gdbGndiTSB pic.twitter.com/ICVG1SN4FG

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 22, 2023

Iran has repeatedly warned of a widening conflict. Earlier this month, Abdollahian said the intensity of the war has rendered its expansion "inevitable".

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has said Tehran sees it as "its duty to support the resistance groups" but insisted that they "are independent in their opinion, decision and action".

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had also said on Sunday that Israel suffered a "defeat" in its war on Gaza, adding that Muslim countries which have formal relations with Israel should "cut off" these ties and halt trade.