Iran envoy still in Beirut despite expulsion deadline, Israel FM says
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Monday that an Iranian ambassador remained in Beirut past a deadline set by Lebanon to declare him persona non grata, and said the country was effectively under Iranian control.
In a post on X, Sa’ar said about 5,000 rockets, shells and drones had been fired from Lebanese territory toward Israel since March 2, including from areas south of the Litani River that the Lebanese army had said were under its operational control.
He said ministers from Hezbollah remained in the Lebanese government.
Sa’ar said Lebanon would not regain its freedom unless it confronted the Iranian influence and Hezbollah.
