Israeli army raises alert on Lebanon border after US strikes on Iran

The Israeli army has raised its alert level along the border with Lebanon, anticipating potential attacks by Hezbollah in solidarity with Iran following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The move comes as regional tensions escalate rapidly, prompting warnings from Lebanese officials and a partial evacuation order from the US.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli military has heightened its state of readiness for any Hezbollah operation linked to Iranian retaliation.

Haaretz reported that the army is preparing for the possibility of Hezbollah joining the conflict following Washington’s involvement in strikes on Iran.

In parallel, the US Department of State announced the departure of family members and non-emergency government personnel from its embassy in Beirut, citing the "volatile and unpredictable security situation".

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed concern over the growing risk of regional spillover.

"The recent escalation between Israel and Iran, along with the rapid developments - particularly the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities this morning - raises fears that tensions could expand in ways that threaten security and stability across several regions and countries," Aoun said in a statement on Sunday.

He called for "restraint and the launch of serious, constructive negotiations to restore stability to the region and avoid further bloodshed and destruction," adding, "this escalation may continue for a long time".

Aoun urged international powers capable of intervention to act swiftly "before it’s too late". He warned that Lebanon - its leadership, parties, and people - was unwilling to be dragged into another war. "We know all too well the price we’ve paid for the wars fought on our soil. We cannot afford to pay again."

According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Aoun has been closely monitoring developments since the early hours of Sunday, maintaining direct contact with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who said he agreed with Aoun to keep communication channels open and work together to insulate Lebanon.

"In the face of escalating military operations and the risks they pose to the entire region, it becomes increasingly important that we firmly uphold our supreme national interest… Our awareness of this national interest is our strongest weapon in these delicate circumstances," Salam warned on a post on X.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah MP Hussein Jishi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that US hostility toward Iran goes beyond nuclear issues.

"The Americans have never ceased their war against the Islamic Republic since the revolution," he said.

"Their problem is that Iran chose political and economic independence and refuses to submit to US dictates."

"Hezbollah is certainly not neutral—it stands with truth against falsehood, with the oppressed against the oppressor and tyrant, namely America and its instrument, Israel. But how this position is expressed—whether through media, culture, politics, or even militarily - will be determined by the resistance," he added.

Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed this stance last Thursday, declaring:

"We are not neutral in this war. We are on Iran's side in confronting this global injustice, and we act in the way we see fit in response to this brutal Israeli-American aggression."