US Warns Lebanon of Severe Retaliation if Hezbollah Attacks Israel Amid Rising Tensions

Ahead of a key meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan reported that Washington has issued a stern warning to Lebanon. The message cautioned that any rocket or drone attack launched by Hezbollah towards Israel would provoke a devastating response, described as "hell" for both Hezbollah and Lebanon. The warning emphasized that repercussions would extend beyond southern Lebanon and the area north of the Litani River.

The US alert was reportedly conveyed to Lebanon’s government and Hezbollah through Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, with the militant group said to be aware of the threat. Washington also warned that Netanyahu is awaiting an opportunity to launch a broad military campaign if Hezbollah intervenes alongside Iran in any future US-Iran conflict.

The Netanyahu-Trump meeting is expected to influence the upcoming Israel-Lebanon negotiations scheduled for August 4 in Rome. These talks aim to move from a framework agreement to implementation, focusing on pilot zones in southern Lebanon designed to test Israeli withdrawal and expand Lebanese state control. A key issue is which entity will oversee the pilot zones, with Lebanon favoring UNIFIL peacekeepers, while Israel remains skeptical due to past experiences.

The US has expressed reluctance to deploy forces in southern Lebanon for monitoring due to security risks, considering appointing a third party to lead the oversight mechanism in coordination with US Central Command’s General Joseph Clearfield. Meanwhile, Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that Lebanon’s president has asked Trump to pressure Israel to advance the second phase of the pilot zones, which would include more villages. Trump reportedly agreed to this in exchange for accelerating Hezbollah’s disarmament steps, though no timeline has been set. Expansion depends on security assessments, violation handling, engineering surveys, and ensuring safe civilian returns.