Iran Says Any End to Lebanon War Requires Israeli Withdrawal as Border Tensions Persist

A developing ceasefire understanding between the United States and Iran is bringing renewed focus to the northern front and raising the question of whether Lebanon will be included in the memorandum the Americans say could be signed within days. On Friday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “Ending the war in Lebanon means an Israeli withdrawal from the territories it occupied.”

According to information held by Israel, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal refers to ending hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Israeli officials say that would amount to linking theaters, but they insist the agreement will not restrict the IDF and that Israel will oppose any such arrangement, especially any withdrawal from areas captured in southern Lebanon. A security source said the army will continue to “tear Hezbollah apart” in southern Lebanon and is working to dismantle its infrastructure.

Israeli officials also warned that if Hezbollah fires at Israel, Israel will strike the Dahieh area in Beirut, saying, “then we will see the Iranians,” and adding, “If they respond, we will attack. We will not accept equations and theater linking. The IDF has freedom of action in Lebanon to act against emerging threats.” At the same time, Israel fears the United States may pressure it to restrain operations in Lebanon so as not to jeopardize the deal with Iran, a point that could produce disagreements with Washington.

On the ground, the situation remained tense late Friday. Shortly after 10 p.m., air-raid sirens sounded near Adita, Arab al-Aramshe, and the IDF later said a “suspicious aerial target” exploded inside Israel near the Lebanese border. Minutes earlier, sirens were triggered in Manara and Margaliot, and the army said it intercepted a suspicious aerial target in an area where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon. Earlier in the evening, sirens also sounded in Shlomi, Bezet, and Rosh Hanikra. The IDF said it had recently killed 10 Hezbollah field commanders in several areas of Lebanon, and since the ceasefire began, more than 1,300 Hezbollah operatives have been killed.