Iran FM says militants in Lebanon, region have 'finger on trigger'
Iran's foreign minister has warned that Lebanese and Palestinian militants had their "finger on the trigger" in anticipation of an Israeli ground offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian however insisted that Tehran-backed militants would decide on their own to take action if Israel continued its war on Hamas.
"What I gathered from what I heard from them and the plans that they have -- they have their finger on the trigger," Abdollahian said of Lebanese and Palestinian militants he has met.
Speaking to U.S. National Public Radio from the United Nations, where he was attending a General Assembly session on the crisis, Abdollahian said the militants' actions would be "much more powerful and deeper than what you’ve witnessed."
"Therefore I believe that if this situation continues and women and children and civilians are still killed in Gaza and the West Bank, anything will be possible," he said.
"We don't really want this conflict to spread out," he added.
His remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden ordered air strikes on two sites in Syria said to be used by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
The Pentagon cast the strikes as measured retaliation after strikes by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria that left one U.S. citizen contractor dead from a cardiac incident and 21 U.S. military personnel with minor injuries.
28 October 2023, 16:00
23
The threat didn't work .. now that Israel's ground invasion has happened, what is that next step Iran promised? Nothing? Seems to be a put-up-or-shut-up moment of Middle East history. Will Lebanon fight to stay within its borders or are we at war with Israel?
28 October 2023, 16:41
74
Israel does not want, and never has wanted, war with Lebanon. Unfortunately Lebanon has constantly allowed Hizballah and Palestinian terrorists to occupy big parts of her territory and Israel has always had to retaliate to their attacks across the internationally recognised border.
28 October 2023, 17:00
24
What is this? Where's hassin! They used to claim that this was his job. I give up damit! I'm going to start calling this guy "hassin". He's obviously running the show, ordering the various local hassin lookalikes and deciding who lives and who dies in Lebanon. Turns out the hassin you were used to is nothing but this guy's master's domestic servant.
28 October 2023, 20:41
24
It is imperative that we retain awareness of the historical context in which certain events unfolded. Firstly, we should remember that Grand Ayatollah Khomeini found refuge and protection in France before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This fact underscores the complexities of international relations and the influence of different nations on pivotal moments in history.
Similarly, we must not overlook the role of the United States in the creation and shaping of groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. Understanding the origins of these organizations is vital in comprehending the intricacies of global politics and security.
Furthermore, it is essential to acknowledge that in their early days, groups such as the Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and Hamas received training and support from Israel, particularly with the objective of weakening Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Lebanon and Palestine.
28 October 2023, 20:43
05
All these instances serve as reminders that not all actors on the international stage have our best interests at heart. Nevertheless, the current situation suggests that if Hezbollah refrains from confronting the Israel Occupation Forces at this point, it may indicate a visible weakness on their part. This could present Lebanon with an opportunity to rid itself of their influence.
28 October 2023, 22:10
45
Israel Occupation Forces - which part of Lebanon are they occupying? The UN says none, it is only Hizballah that says they are.
29 October 2023, 12:54
41
A little over a century ago, half of Palestine was part of the Vileyet Beirut. We have historical ties with these people and we cant shut up when European invaders colonise and murder the natives.
29 October 2023, 19:40
20
My Palestinians? 1/ I wasn’t around during the civil war 2/ PLO Palestinians , most refugees didn’t take arms against the Lebanese.
30 October 2023, 00:00
10
clearly you're not Lebanese or you're absolutely uneducated. in 1982, we had 300 000 Palestinian refugees & there were 18 000 Palestinian PLO fedayeen in 1982 which is a fraction of the total Palestinian population in Lebanon. The immense majority was innocent...
30 October 2023, 00:00
11
And these are the other groups
Arab Liberation Front (ALF), a Palestinian group affiliated with Iraqi-led Ba'ath Party with an estimated 2,500 fighters in total
As-Sa'iqa ("Thunderbolt"), a Palestinian group affiliated with Syrian-led Ba'ath Party with an estimated 4,000 fighters in total
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) with an estimated 2,500 fighters in total
Fatah-Revolutionary Council
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) with an estimated 2,000 fighters in total
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC) with an estimated 2,000 fighters in total
Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) with an estimated 5,000 fighters in total
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) with an estimated 2,200 fighters in total
29 October 2023, 07:24
51
We consider ourselves siblings and sons of Iran. We share culturally and spiritual bonds with Iran.
What do your heroes Gemayel and Geagea share with the dirty Zionists and the dirty West? Love for dollars above dignity and honor is your bond to America. Even if Lebanon was in ruins you would still support Israel, real traitors.
This is the reason the Resistance will never allow you to rule Lebanon.
29 October 2023, 11:05
32
If the Government of the Republic of Lebanon can not got give an order to the Lebanese Armed Forces under the command of General Aoun, to remove Hizballah from all of its positions in the Republic, then don't blame Israel if and when it has to do the work for them.
29 October 2023, 14:00
11
Moi, je parle francais, et pour la Liban, vous avez oublier "apres moi la deluge"
