Israel warns Lebanon against Hezbollah participation in possible US-Iran conflict

Israel has warned the Lebanese government that it could launch significant strikes against the country if the Shia militia and Iranian proxy Hezbollah were to attack Israel in the event of a U.S.-Iran war, Reuters reported Tuesday. 

The report cited two anonymous “senior Lebanese officials” who said Israel's message was passed on indirectly. 

At the same time, in an interview with Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon has “no control over the course of Iranian-American relations.” 

Salam urged Hezbollah not to drag the country into another round of conflict, saying, “The Gaza adventure came at a high cost to Lebanon, and we hope we will not be dragged into another one.” 

The Lebanese prime minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing the disarmament process. However, he acknowledged that the speed of implementation north of the Litani River is linked to several factors, including the outcome of the upcoming conference in Paris to raise support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) next month.

Salam’s plea came after Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said the group is “not neutral” in the conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic. 

“We are concerned with what is happening and targeted by potential aggression. We are determined to defend ourselves. We will choose in due course how to act, whether to intervene or not... but we are not neutral,” Qassem said during a televised address in January. 

On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates news outlet, The National, reported that Hezbollah indicated it might not carry out direct strikes against U.S. interests in the region in the event of an open conflict between Iran and America. 

“Hezbollah will not stay neutral if Iran is attacked by the U.S.,” a Hezbollah official told The National. However, the official clarified that “it doesn't necessarily mean Hezbollah will take military action against the aggressors.” 

The statement appears to leave open the possibility of attacks on Israel, as Lebanese officials affiliated with the Shia community continued to accuse Israel of “trying to inflame the regional situation.” 

“Israel is trying to inflame the regional situation, whether through its attacks on Lebanon, its continued violations in Gaza and the West Bank, or its incursions into Syria,” the source said. “Netanyahu’s government has an interest in maintaining a state of regional crisis.” 

The source also claimed that Hezbollah “will not accept Israeli exploitation of a potential war with Iran to attack Lebanon.” 

Over the past few weeks, the Israel Defense Forces has stepped up strikes against the Iranian proxy in an effort to degrade its military capabilities ahead of a potential conflict that could see the Islamic Republic target the Jewish state.

❗️ ELIMINATED: Several terrorists of Hezbollah’s missile array, in 3 different command centers in the Baalbek area in Lebanon.

They were identified as operating to accelerate readiness and force build-up processes, while planning fire attacks toward Israel and advancing terror… https://t.co/P4gbeyts52

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 21, 2026

Israel reportedly hopes to undermine Hezbollah’s ability to function as an antagonizing force, especially targeting its rocket and missile capabilities. 

A similar increase in IDF strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure took place last May in the lead-up to Operation Rising Lion. That strategy appears to have been successful, as Hezbollah did not participate in the 12-day Israel-Iran war.