The leader of Hezbollah discussed with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, visiting Lebanon, “the positions that must be adopted” in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, the pro-Iranian group said on Friday.
According to a Hezbollah press release, its secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, met with the head of Iranian diplomacy, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who arrived in Beirut on Thursday evening.
The Israeli state and the United States fear the opening of a second front in northern Israel on the border with Lebanon, if Hezbollah, supported by Iran, decides to intervene massively.
Since the war began on October 7, Hezbollah’s involvement from southern Lebanon has remained limited to bombing Israeli positions in the north, aimed at supporting Hamas, its ally.
Around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack and more than 1,500 Palestinians in the Israeli response, according to local authorities.
The leader of Hezbollah and the Iranian minister “discussed the responsibilities that fall to all, and the positions that must be taken in the face of historical events and the latest developments,” according to the Hezbollah press release.
The Iranian minister indicated Thursday that the opening of a “new front” against Israel would be conditional on the “actions” of the Israeli state in the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Amir-Abdollahian was greeted upon his arrival in Beirut on Thursday evening by representatives of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, among others. He is due to meet with Lebanese officials on Friday before traveling to Damascus.
Speaking from Beirut airport, he reiterated that Iran’s regional allies (Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, among others), known informally as the “Axis of Resistance,” could respond if escalation of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi called on “Muslim and Arab countries” to “coordinate” to “stop the crimes” of Israel. He spoke on Wednesday evening with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.