BEIRUT, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Lebanese Hezbollah expressed solidarity with Iran on Saturday as it came under attack from the United States and Israel, warning in a statement that it would have dire consequences for the region but did not say whether it would intervene.
Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim militia and political party that has been involved in numerous conflicts with Israel since its founding in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Hezbollah was severely weakened by Israel in the 2024 war and its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed.
Israel has warned Beirut that if Hezbollah becomes involved in any US-Iran war, it will strike hard at Lebanon, targeting civilian infrastructure including airports.
Hezbollah said in a statement that the consequences of the U.S.-Israeli plan “if left unchallenged, will affect everyone without exception.” “We are confident that enemies of the United States and Israel will be dealt a significant blow,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would not accept anyone dragging Lebanon into “adventures that threaten its security and unity,” a veiled message to Hezbollah.
In a statement issued after the Israeli and US attacks on Iran, Salam noted “serious developments” in the region and called on “all Lebanese to act with wisdom and patriotism, putting the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people above any other consideration.”
(Reporting by Maya Gerbeli, Leila Bassam and Jana Jockel; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Kevin Liffey)
