In the crossfire: Can Lebanon stay out of the Iran-Israel war?
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi
As drones, rockets, and warplanes traversed Lebanon's skies amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, Lebanese authorities are intensifying political and security efforts to prevent the country from being pulled into the widening regional war.
On the ground in South Lebanon, the Lebanese Army has bolstered its deployment at sensitive locations to prevent rocket launches that could provoke further escalation. Measures have also been tightened at checkpoints leading to areas south of the Litani River to prevent any armed group from exploiting the volatile situation.
In parallel with military and security efforts across the southern region, Lebanese intelligence services have issued explicit warnings to Palestinian factions, urging them not to involve Lebanon in the conflict under any pretext.
Security sources noted that through formal communication channels, they sensed a clear stance from Hezbollah to avoid engagement in the current conflict and to keep Lebanon out of the hostilities.
Despite repeated Israeli airstrikes and the assassination of several Hezbollah members following the ceasefire agreement, the group has refrained from retaliating.
Sources indicate that Lebanese security attention is also focused on the country's interior and the Syrian border in northern Bekaa, where concerns remain about the potential for opportunistic infiltration or clashes. An exchange of fire on the border Friday was described as limited in scope, with no reports of Syrian reinforcements entering the area.
President Joseph Aoun chaired a high-level security meeting with the ministers of interior, defense, and public works, as well as the heads of Lebanon's security agencies, to assess recent developments. The resulting statement emphasized steps being taken to maintain internal stability, ensure the safety of civil aviation, and preserve operational readiness.
Amid the ongoing regional and international developments, Lebanon continues to prioritize the renewal of the U.N. peacekeeping force mandate in the south.
Recent Israeli media claims suggesting the mission might be canceled were denied by U.S. officials. This position was reinforced by a visiting U.S. delegation in Beirut this week, which met with key stakeholders and heard both the UNIFIL and Lebanese perspectives.
Lebanese authorities emphasized the critical role of UNIFIL in supporting the Lebanese Army and maintaining stability along the southern border, warning that a withdrawal would isolate the army and risk further destabilizing the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LBCI
an hour ago
- LBCI
Iran-Israel war could have 'harmful' migration impact on Europe, Erdogan warns
The Iran-Israel air war could spark a surge in migration that would affect Europe and the region, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday. "The spiral of violence triggered by Israel's attacks could harm the region and Europe in terms of migration and the possibility of nuclear leakage," his office quoted him as saying in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. AFP
Nahar Net
2 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Berri 'certain', '200% sure' Hezbollah won't join Iran war
by Naharnet Newsdesk 5 hours Hezbollah will certainly not join the Israel-Iran war, the group's ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly told his visitors. Berri's visitors told al-Jadeed, in remarks published Friday, that the speaker is "certain" that Lebanon will not join the war. On Thursday, Berri said Lebanon will "200 percent" not enter the war. "It has no interest in that and would pay the price if it did," he said, adding that Iran "does not need us." A Lebanese government source also told al-Jadeed Thursday that Hezbollah will not join the fray after an Iranian official told al-Jazeera that Hezbollah would act if the United States intervened to back up its ally Israel. - Hezbollah chief says group will 'act as we see fit'- Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Thursday that the group would "act as we see fit" in response to the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. In a statement, Qassem said Hezbollah was "not neutral" in the conflict between the two regional superpowers, saying that the group would "act as we see fit in the face of this brutal Israeli-American aggression". Berri said Qassem's remarks are only aimed at showing "solidarity" with Iran and certainly do not mean that Hezbollah will join the war. Earlier this week, Hezbollah political bureau member Mahmoud Qmati denied that Hezbollah would get involved and said that "Iran is strong enough and does not need military support from anyone". - Hezbollah has not fired a single rocket - U.S. special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between Iran and Israel, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the entire "Shiite axis" is not responding to Israeli attacks on Iran and that "Hezbollah has not fired a single rocket". Caroline Rose, a director at the Washington-based New Lines Institute think tank said that "Iran-backed proxies across the region — particularly Hezbollah— just do not have the capacity" to enter the fray. But Israel could still target them, she said. - Barrack vs Ortagus - Berri, who met Barrack Thursday, said the meeting was "excellent" and lauded the Lebanese-American diplomat for his tact and savoir-faire, which could be a hint that U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus was not as tactful. Berri had said after reports that Ortagus would be replaced that Israel's discontent about her replacement is "pleasing to the heart" and more than enough reason for him to be pleased by it. In her first visit to war-hit Lebanon in February, Ortagus voiced from the presidential palace in Baabda pro-Israel statements. "We are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," Ortagus said. Al-Akhbar newspaper claimed that President Joseph Aoun later expressed to U.S. officials "his unease" over Ortagus' approach. The Presidency's press office announced that "what Ortagus said from Baabda reflects her viewpoint and the Presidency is not concerned with it." Later on the X platform, Ortagus mocked Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem with a "Yawn" as she reposted some of his words and insulted former PSP leader Walid Jumblat. "Crack is whack, Walid," Ortagus wrote after Jumblat described her conditions as "unrealistic." Ortagus has said that the United States has set a "red line" that Hezbollah should not be a member of Lebanon's next government and demanded that Hezbollah be disarmed. Despite Ortagus' words, Hezbollah took part in Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government. Barrack is of Lebanese origins and is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. He has said that he will temporarily replace Ortagus as Washington's special envoy to Lebanon. During his first official visit to Lebanon on Thursday he met with Aoun, Salam and Berri. Ortagus on the other hand, an American diplomat, intelligence analyst, political advisor, naval officer, and former television commentator, has converted to Judaism and is a strong supporter of Israel.
Nahar Net
2 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Report: Barrack to return to Beirut in 3 weeks, says Trump keen on stability
by Naharnet Newsdesk 20 June 2025, 16:20 U.S. envoy Tom Barrack promised President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam to carry answers regarding their concerns when he returns to Lebanon after three weeks, a Lebanese official source told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. 'Contrary to what was circulated prior to his arrival, the U.S. envoy did not carry warnings related to Hezbollah's arms, although he asked during the meetings about the delay in addressing the matter,' the daily added. He also told Lebanese leaders that U.S. President Donald Trump 'wants to stabilize the region and wants to know Lebanon's viewpoint as to achieving this goal,' Asharq al-Awsat said. 'Barrack said that Trump is keen on stability in Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey and would exert efforts to achieve this objective,' the sources added.
