Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani issued a direct threat on Thursday, as sensitive talks in Washington continue over a possible security pilot in southern Lebanon. The plan would involve a limited, controlled Israeli withdrawal from a small area in the south and the entry of the Lebanese army. Qaani sought to portray any Israeli move as a victory for Iran and its allies.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Qaani told Israel: “You must leave all of Lebanon. This land is a field of steadfastness and resistance, not a playground for occupiers.” He added, “If you do not withdraw voluntarily today, tomorrow you will be forced to flee in humiliation and defeat.”
Israeli security officials said the mechanism was developed months ago, long before any Iranian involvement, and argued that fighting on the ground is still ongoing. The Israeli side says the pilot was conceived by former minister Ron Dermer in the narrow cabinet and is unrelated to U.S.-Iran understandings. According to the plan, Lebanese army units would be screened and trained in the United States to ensure they are not linked to Hezbollah before being allowed to hold the area.
The Israeli military also said it continues intensive operations in Lebanon to locate and destroy Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon. IDF officials said the exposure and full destruction of command centers and weapons caches is a key, non-negotiable condition for any future change in troop deployment, and that operations will continue based only on Israel’s operational and security needs.
