Lebanon has declared the Iranian Ambassador persona non grata amid Israeli attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded his departure from Lebanon by Sunday.
The ministry also summoned the Lebanese ambassador to Iran for consultations, citing what it described as Tehran’s violation of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries.
The decision comes as the Israeli army continues to attack Lebanon with air strikes and pushes forward with a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, in response to the US-Israel killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Lebanese authorities say at least 1,039 people have since been killed and 2,876 injured in Israeli attacks. More than 1.5 million Lebanese people have been displaced as Israel has ordered people to evacuate from the country’s southern region.
The latest Israeli war comes as many of the more than one million people displaced during the 2023-24 war are not able to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces continue to occupy Lebanese territory, and continue attacks that have killed hundreds.
Hezbollah started cross-border attacks on Israel in October 2023 in solidarity with the people of Gaza, which was under massive Israeli bombardment. Israel invaded southern Lebanon after almost a year of cross-border fire that resulted in the displacement of thousands of people on both sides of the border. The fighting ended in a ceasefire in November 2024.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have further strained relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, which has resisted the Lebanese government’s attempts to disarm the group.
The November 2024 deal required Hezbollah to disarm and the Israeli military to vacate its positions from inside Lebanon.Hezbollah, which was established in 1982 following the Israeli invasion, has refused to lay down its weapons, demanding that Israel leave Lebanese territory first.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah had honoured the 2024 ceasefire deal despite repeated violations by Israel.The Lebanese government banned Hezbollah’s military activities on March 2.
Lebanon, which was weakened in the 2024 war, seems to have regrouped and mounted a fightback against Israel. It has fired dozens of rockets against Israel as another front has opened in the US-Israel war on Iran. Hezbollah is part of the so-called “axis of resistance” backed by Tehran. The Houthi group in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq are other members of the axis.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Welcomes Lebanon’s Expulsion Of Iranian Envoy
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar asserted in a post on X that Lebanon’s move to expel Iran’s ambassador is “justified” due to Iran’s support for Hezbollah.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has welcomed a reported decision by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expel the Iranian ambassador accredited to Lebanon, describing the move as justified and necessary amid growing regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its allies.
Sa’ar made the remarks in a post on social media, where he expressed support for Lebanon’s decision and argued that Iran bears responsibility for violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and indirectly occupying it through Hezbollah, and dragging it into war.
We call on the Lebanese government to take practical steps and effective measures against Hezbollah, whose affiliated ministers still hold positions in this government
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has long been a central political and military force within Lebanon. The group maintains both an armed wing and political representatives in parliament and government. Israel has frequently accused Hezbollah of acting as an extension of Iranian influence in the region, while Hezbollah maintains that its role is to defend Lebanon from external threats.
Lebanon’s political system is based on a complex power-sharing arrangement that includes representation from various political and religious groups. Hezbollah and its allies have been part of successive Lebanese governments, a situation that has drawn criticism from Israel and some Western countries that view the group as a militant organization.For years, Israel
Sa’ar’s remarks underscore Israel’s longstanding position that Iran’s regional alliances, particularly with Hezbollah, contribute to instability across the Middle East. Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that Iranian support for armed groups in neighboring countries allows Tehran to project influence beyond its borders.
Sa’ar’s response suggests that Israel views the move as a potential step toward limiting Iranian influence within Lebanon. At the same time, his call for stronger action against Hezbollah indicates that Israel believes further measures would be necessary to change the strategic balance.As regional tensions continue to
The reported decision by Lebanon’s foreign ministry to expel the Iranian ambassador, if fully implemented, could represent a significant diplomatic development in a country that has long balanced complex internal and external pressures. Lebanon maintains diplomatic relations with Iran, and Hezbollah’s political role means that decisions involving Tehran often carry domestic implications.Sa’ar’s response
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