Israeli DM: Iran, Hezbollah have taken Lebanon hostage

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a rare Arabic message to the people of Lebanon said that “Shiite Iran and its affiliates, led by Hezbollah, have taken Lebanon and its people hostage in the service of their narrow sectarian and sectarian interests.”

He warned them that if Iran-backed Hezbollah “continues its aggression, Israel will fight it in a very difficult war.”

In the Arabic message posted on X, he emphasized that Iran and its proxy group Hezbollah are “responsible for the ongoing crisis.”