Iran Warns US of Major Retaliation for Israeli Strike in Lebanon

Iran has warned the United States that it will deliver a decisive response to any full-scale Israeli offensive against the Al-Tahir ridge in southern Lebanon. According to three regional officials familiar with the communication, Tehran conveyed this message to Washington last month. The message emphasized Iran's direct involvement in ground operations in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against potential Israeli strikes in the area. Tehran stated that a large-scale assault on the ridge would be met with a significant attack from Iran.

Lebanese security sources suggest that Hezbollah may have established an underground command center and weapons depots on the ridge. The organization has publicly declared control over the territory and its preparedness to resist an Israeli advance. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently occupy significant areas south of the ridge, and the IDF has previously identified Al-Tahir as a "primary operational priority."