The leader of Hezbollah warned that a possible attack on Iran would not go unanswered and could trigger a large-scale conflict in the entire region. The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East.
The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Naim Qasim, warned on Monday that a new war against Iran, a key ally of his movement, would unleash conflict across the region. He added that a possible attack on Tehran would also be directed against the militants themselves. TASR took the information from the AFP and Reuters agencies.
“We are concerned about what is happening and we are the target of potential aggression. We are determined to defend ourselves. We will decide at the appropriate time how we will act, whether we will intervene or not, but we are not neutral,” the Hezbollah leader said in a televised address to his supporters at a rally in support of Iran.
Threats against Hezbollah
“A war against Iran this time will set the whole region on fire,” Qasim added, adding that mediators had informed the group that the US and Israel would consider attacking Hezbollah if Iran were to be attacked.
According to the agencies, Hezbollah is particularly concerned about the threat of the United States against Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington
Tensions between Tehran and Washington are primarily related to the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on demonstrations that have taken place across the country since the end of December, in which thousands of people have died. US President Donald Trump announced last week that US military units are heading to the Persian Gulf. The US military confirmed on Monday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, together with a group of other military vessels, had arrived in the Middle East region.
Support from Hezbollah
Hezbollah called on its followers to gather in its strongholds across Lebanon on Monday to express support for Iran “in the face of US-Zionist sabotage and threats”. Some supporters of the movement in Beirut held photos of Iran’s supreme leader, as well as Hezbollah and Iran flags, and chanted “death to America,” reports AFP.
