Hizbollah asserted that the Lebanese military had “opened fire at an Israeli drone” and that its own forces had also “targeted with the suitable weapons” another Israeli UAV in Lebanese airspace.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif indicated that “Iran is helping the Lebanese groups reach an agreement with each other, and also no one can impose an agreement on the Lebanese people”. He added that “after the [August 2020] explosion of the port of Beirut, Iran offered to provide assistance to Lebanon, but U.S. pressure prevented it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that “if you attack our towns and civilians, we’ll attack yours. You are an army state, so there’s no distinction whatsoever between Israeli soldiers and civilians”. “We are not seeking a confrontation or war”, he added. “But should a confrontation take place, we will engage in it... even the game of ‘a few days of fighting’ will be a dangerous game for the Israelis and would lead them to undesirable consequences”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked: “If we have to go to battle, Lebanon will tremble and Hizbollah will be fatally wounded”. “If there are days of fighting… they will be difficult for the Israeli home front, but it will be difficult and terrible first and foremost for our enemies”, he added. “This is especially true for Hizbollah and Hamas, which are building offensive capabilities from within civilian areas and committing war crimes”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “the IDF is operating and will keep operating on the border and beyond… we will not hesitate to uproot the Iranian entrenchment near our borders, and [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah knows well that his decision to build bunkers of ammunition and rockets and to strengthen Hizbollah’s capabilities is putting him in danger and putting the lives of Lebanese citizens in danger”. He also warned: “If a confrontation occurs on the northern front, the State of Lebanon will be the one that pays the heaviest price because [the ammunition and rockets] are in civilian areas”. 

The Israeli military reported that “anti-aircraft missiles were… fired toward an IDF UAV during routine activity over Lebanon. The aircraft was not hit and we continued our mission as planned”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “when I tell you I know there are homes in Lebanon that have guest rooms and missile rooms, it’s not just a slogan. It’s the reality on the ground. Eventually, we will have to attack missiles that are being stored within civilian populations. This is verified intelligence, and we saw the repercussions of such reckless practice by Hizbollah in the port of Beirut”.

Hizbollah reported downing an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military confirmed that “during operational activities by IDF troops on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

Israel’s military chief of staff asserted that Hizbollah and Hamas had “conceal[ed] their weapons in civilian areas on purpose”, warning that “Israel will strike every house that holds weapons in the event of a general war ‘with a deluge of strikes’”. He added: “I have already warned you in Lebanon and Gaza: Once war starts, we will let you leave the places you are in, the place you are in with missiles - and you know this”.

The Israeli military reported downing “a drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace”, while asserting: “We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”.

An IRGC commander indicated that “what you see in missile power existing in Palestine’s Gaza and Lebanon is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran… Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and other Islamic countries enjoy pinpointing missiles to confront the Zionist regime”. “Iran will support anyone and/or any country that confronts the Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”, he underscored.

The Israeli military reported sighting “a number of suspects approaching the security fence between Israel and Lebanon. One suspect crossed a few metres into Israeli territory before retreating”. “Our troops stopped the suspects and confirmed that there were no further infiltrations”, the IDF added.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was cited as saying that “his group now has twice as many precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago”, and “Israel’s efforts to prevent it from acquiring them have failed”. He further emphasised that “the last few weeks of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are critical and must be treated with care”, while pledging revenge over the January 2020 killing of Iranian IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani as well as the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria.

An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as asserting that “Israel has no intention of stopping its efforts of preventing Iran from taking hold of areas in Syria and Lebanon”, adding that “the extended array of anti-aircraft systems deployed in Syria is no obstacle for the IDF”. He further noted that “Israel knows about the current efforts being undertaken by Hizbollah and will know how to neutralise any weapon or technology of the terrorist group – by military means or otherwise”.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement on U.S.-mediated maritime negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, indicating that “despite goodwill on both sides, the parties remain far apart. The U.S. remains ready to mediate constructive discussions and urges both sides to negotiate based on the respective maritime claims both have previously deposited at the United Nations”.

Commenting on the delivery of new corvettes for the Israeli navy, a senior Israeli military official was cited as saying that “the new fleet would bolster the navy’s capacity to defend increasingly lucrative offshore natural gas assets from rivals like Lebanon’s Shiite group Hizbollah”, which he assessed “are the main objective on the Hizbollah target list for the next war”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, hailed Slovenia’s move “to recognise all branches of Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation”, and urged “the EU and other countries to recognise all branches of Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation”. The U.S. the same day welcomed a similar move by Latvia, adding: “The simple fact is that Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation, root and branch. The U.S. continues to call on all countries to take whatever action they can to prevent its operatives, recruiters and financiers from operating on their territories”.

The U.S. State Department published a factsheet entitled “Furthering Our Relationship with Israel”, noting, inter alia, that “the U.S. stands with Israel in countering Iran’s destabilising behaviour in the region” and underscoring the fact that “the U.S. supports Israel’s right to defend itself and is a partner to Israel in the face of Iran’s continued support for designated terrorist groups such as Hizbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza”. The document further recognised “Israel’s support for our decision to trigger the snapback of UNSC sanctions on Iran”, noting that “we continue to promote implementation of the snapped-back sanctions”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that “with a person like Trump anything is possible during the remainder of his term... the axis of resistance should be in a state of high readiness to respond twice as hard in case of any American or Israeli folly”.

The Israeli military announced it had “downed a drone belonging to Hizbollah that crossed from Lebanon into Israel”, adding that “there was no danger to the nearby communities and our forces. We maintain elevated readiness and will not tolerate any violation of Israeli sovereignty”.

Secretary Pompeo announced that “the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury sanctioned nineteen individuals and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and other sanctions authorities”. “The Assad regime has a choice: take irreversible steps toward a peaceful resolution of this decade-long conflict or face further crippling sanctions”, Pompeo asserted.

The U.S. designated “Gibran Bassil, the leader of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement and a former Lebanese cabinet official… for his role in corruption”. The State Department said the designation “build[s] on the recent counterterrorism designations under Executive Order 13224 of former Lebanese officials… who put personal interests and those of Iran-backed Hizbollah ahead of the welfare of the Lebanese people”, adding that Bassil “undermined good governance and contributed to the prevailing system of corruption and political patronage that plagues Lebanon, which has aided and abetted Hizbollah’s destabilising activities”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz warned EU diplomats that “there are too many homes in Lebanon that also serve as arms depots. The Lebanese state will need to be held accountable for the activity on its soil and you should communicate this through your governments to the Lebanese government”. He further noted that “new voices are emerging from within Lebanon and we have even begun to enter dialogue on maritime borders... we can both learn from that type of process that dialogue is possible and productive. And were the Lebanese government to cease to be under the influence of Iran and Hizbollah, we could take an entirely different course toward dialogue and cooperation”.

On the sideline of a military drill along Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “even during the coronavirus, our enemies are not stagnant and neither are we… I have been impressed by the vast improvement in the IDF’s offensive capabilities. Hizbollah and the state of Lebanon should take this into account. Whoever attacks us will encounter firepower and a steel fist that will destroy any enemy”.

The U.S. designated “two Hizbollah officials to maintain pressure on the group and impede its ability to operate in the financial system”. The following day, on the anniversary of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underscored “our commitment to preventing Hizbollah and its sponsor Iran from spilling more innocent blood in Lebanon or anywhere in the world. The U.S. will continue to target, disrupt and dismantle Hizbollah’s financing and operational networks, and will continue to take all actions available to starve this terrorist entity of funds and support”. He further urged “all nations to designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety”.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was appointed to form a new Lebanese government.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that “Iran continues to arm Hizbollah in blatant violation of Resolutions 1701 and 1559, most notably the arms embargo that this Council reaffirmed less than two months ago. Month after month, some here today turn a blind eye as Iran channels sophisticated weapons and money into Lebanon, ensuring there can never be peace”. She went on to argue that “this Council must do more to address both the incomplete implementation of Resolutions 1559 and 1701, and Hizbollah’s illicit activities”.

The U.S. and the UN issued a joint statement announcing that “representatives from the governments of Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. met... to launch discussions aimed at reaching consensus on a common Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary”. “During this initial meeting, the representatives held productive talks and reaffirmed their commitment to continue negotiations”, the statement added.

Israel and Lebanon agreed on the framework of U.S.-mediated, UN-hosted talks over their maritime border. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed the announcement and said that it would be “a vital step forward that serves the interests of Lebanon and Israel, of the region and of the U.S.”. “Recognising the positive experience of the Tripartite mechanism, the U.S. also looks forward to separate expert-level talks to define unresolved issues related to the Blue Line, which offer the promise of another positive step for regional stability”, Pompeo added.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed explosions at the port of Beirut and a Hizbollah arms depot, arguing that “the next explosion could take place… [in] the Beirut neighborhood of Janah” where “Hizbollah is keeping a secret arms depot”. He further addressed the people of Lebanon and said: “Israel means you no harm. But Iran does. Iran and Hizbollah have deliberately put you and your families in grave danger. And what you should make clear is that what they have done is unacceptable. You should tell them, tear these depots down… The international community must insist that Hizbollah stop using Lebanon and Lebanese civilians as human shields”. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah rejected the allegations and said: “we don’t store missiles at the port or near gas facilities. We know where to store missiles”.

Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Mustafa Adib announced his resignation almost a month after his appointment.

A senior U.S. official claimed that “since 2012, Hizbollah has established caches of ammonium nitrate throughout Europe by transporting first aid kits whose cold packs contain the substance… Such caches have been moved through Belgium to France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland”. “We have reason to believe that this activity is still underway”, he added, urging “more countries to designate Hizbollah in its entirety, and for the European Union to expand its 2013 designation of the so-called military wing to reach the entire organisation”. Hizbollah “is a terrorist organisation that exists to shed blood around the world, act at the behest of its masters in Tehran”, the official argued, adding that “we think there is an obvious practical effect to our sanctions”, as well as “a very strong messaging value”. A French diplomatic spokesperson subsequently indicated that “to our knowledge, there is nothing tangible to confirm such an allegation in France today”.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, confirmed arresting an individual trying to enlist “Israeli and Palestinian civilians and residents to carry out terrorist activities in Israel”. A senior Israeli security official elaborated that the “investigation… is the product of a lengthy intelligence operation to locate those suspected of being recruited by Hizbollah. It is another step in the counterterrorism efforts carried out in the past year against [Iran’s IRGC] Quds Force and Hizbollah attempts to recruit Israeli Arabs”.

The U.S. designated “two Lebanon-based companies... for being owned, controlled or directed by Hizbollah”. According to the Treasury Department, “Hizbollah leverages Arch [Consulting] and Meamar [Construction] to conceal money transfers to Hizbollah’s own accounts, further enriching Hizbollah’s leadership and supporters and depriving the Lebanese people of much-needed funds”. An individual described as “a senior Hizbollah Executive Council Official” and linked to the two companies was also sanctioned.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted with respect to Lebanon that “to see what Hizbollah, under the direct control of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has done to that country saddens me greatly. And the U.S. is determined to prevent Iran from continuing to undermine sovereignty of the people of Lebanon, the sovereignty of the people of Iraq, the sovereignty, frankly, of the people of Syria who have been decimated by Iranian support for the Assad regime”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Serbia’s decision to “designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety” and called it a “significant step limiting this Iranian backed terrorist group’s ability to operate in Europe… there is no doubt that the dominoes are falling on Hizbollah’s European operations, where it has continue to plot terrorist attacks, procure military technology and raise much needed funding”. Pompeo further urged “the European Union and European nations to designate or ban Hizbollah in its entirety, and recognise the reality that it is a terrorist organisation root and branch with no distinction between its so-called ‘military’ and ‘political’ wings”.

The Lebanese army reported that it had downed an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military stated that an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory during “operational activity”, noting that “there is no risk of breach of information”.

The U.S. designated two former Lebanese ministers for having delivered “material support to Hizbollah and engaged in corruption”. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin contended that “corruption has run rampant in Lebanon, and Hizbollah has exploited the political system to spread its malign influence”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “Lebanese politicians who have provided a false veneer of political legitimacy to Hizbollah or abused their positions to direct public funds to the terrorist group are as responsible for its entrenched influence as Hizbollah’s own members or the corrupt businessmen and money launderers that have helped fund the group for decades”. “Anyone helping to advance Hizbollah’s political or economic interests is further eroding what remains of effective governance and facilitating financing for terrorism”, he added. Hizbollah reacted with a statement declaring that “it is a badge of honor for the two dear friends and all who are accused by the U.S. administration of being resistant… all what is issued by the U.S. administration is denounced and rejected”.

Mustafa Adib was appointed Lebanon’s prime minister.

Addressing Israel, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted: “If you kill one of our fighters, we will kill one of your soldiers. We don’t care to retaliate by hitting machines or locations or causing material damage”.

The Israeli army reported that “during operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops. We responded with fire, and our aircraft struck Hizbollah observation posts near the border”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we will not allow [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah to harm our soldiers or our country. We will respond forcefully to any incidents on our border”. Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Israel views the gunfire against our troops by Hizbollah with great severity”, and urged “Hizbollah not to test the strike force of Israel. Hizbollah is again putting Lebanon at risk because of its aggressiveness”.

Hizbollah reported that it had intercepted an Israeli UAV in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated that “an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory. There is no fear of classified information leaking”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “we will not be providing that kind of long-term assistance [to Lebanon] until we see a government that’s actually capable of reform and change… We have been able to deal with governments in the past with a Hizbollah component, but the question is whether it is going to be a government that’s truly capable of reforms. Reforms are contrary to the interests of all of the status quo leaders and that very much includes Hizbollah, which is today perceived as a big part of the problem”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed “the guilty verdict handed down by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) against Hizbollah operative Salim Ayyash for his role in the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri”. He further reiterated that “Hizbollah and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organisation dedicated to advancing Iran’s malign sectarian agenda… Hizbollah’s terrorist and illicit activities in Lebanon and throughout the world demonstrate that it is more concerned with its own interests and those of its patron, Iran, than what is best for Lebanon and the Lebanese people”. On a similar note, Israel’s Foreign Ministry argued that “Hizbollah has taken the Lebanese people’s future hostage on behalf of foreign interests. The world must unite against this terror organization… Hizbollah’s armament, precision guided missile project and belligerent actions across the region threaten the entire Middle East”.​

Referring to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria, Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “Hizbollah will respond, but the response will be studied and measured, only [a] serious, calculated action would be taken, not media stunts”.

Speaking with his French counterpart, President Rouhani asserted that “Lebanon needs more unity among political groups and we must all help to create this unity. Lebanon today needs a strong government, and the Lebanese parliament and all parties must work together in this regard”. According to an Iranian readout, Rouhani “also welcomed the French president’s invitation from Iran to join the international action group to help resolve Lebanon’s problems”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “while [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is our biggest enemy to the north, he is the biggest problem for Lebanon… We are fighting enemies that keep weapons and operate in civilian surroundings. If we don’t have a choice but to fight, it will have dire consequences”. He also remarked that “Iran is interested in opening a terror franchise in Syria, and we must prevent the opening of this franchise as much as possible. We are operating in Syria and in other places around the region all the time and with all kinds of methods, and we will continue to do so”. The following day, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the French president that “in order to prevent disasters like the one that occurred at Beirut port, the explosives and missiles that Hizbollah has hidden must be removed from all concentrations of civilian population in Lebanon”. “Hizbollah is sorely mistaken if thinks it can solve the crisis in Lebanon by creating a crisis with Israel”, he added.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his cabinet’s resignation in the wake of a major 4 August explosion in Beirut’s port. “A political class is using all their dirty tricks to prevent real change”, Diab remarked. “Today we will take a step back in order to stand with the people”.

The Israeli military announced that it had “identified, monitored and downed a drone which infiltrated into northern Israel along the Blue Line”.

Media reports citing Bahrain’s Interior Ministry indicated that the country had “foiled two attempts to smuggle explosives from Iran after seizing two cars loaded with explosive materials”, adding that “those arrested confessed to Lebanon’s Hizbollah group being behind the operation”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an attempt by four terrorists to place explosives near the security fence between Israel and Syria. Our troops and aircraft fired toward the squad and a hit was identified”. Israel’s top military official on 7 August argued that the “squad was sent by Iran, which was part of the process of establishing a radical axis in Syria”. The IDF confirmed that it had responded to the incident by targeting Syrian “observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems”. Syrian state media reported “material losses” from the attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu later maintained that “we hit a cell and now we hit the dispatchers. We will do what is necessary in order to defend ourselves. I suggest to all of them, including Hizbollah, to consider this”.

The White House extended by one year the national emergency with respect to Lebanon, stating that “certain ongoing activities, such as Iran’s continuing arms transfers to Hizbollah – which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems – serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the U.S.”

At a session of the Supreme Defence Council, Lebanese President Michel Aoun denounced “the Israeli aggressions on south Lebanon yesterday… and considered what happened as a threat on stability in southern Lebanon”.  Meanwhile, the IDF deployed further military and intelligence support to Israel’s northern border. The same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with top military officials at IDF Northern Command headquarters, assessing that “everything happening now is the result of the effort by Iran and its Lebanese proxies to entrench militarily in our region. [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is serving this Iranian interest at Lebanon’s expense”. “We will continue to take action to thwart Iran’s military entrenchment in our region”, he added. Relatedly, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “I suggest that the countries of the region – near and far, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and anyone involved in terrorism – remember that the State of Israel has infinite capacity and we know how to use it”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an infiltration attempt by a Hizbollah terror squad in northern Israel”. Addressing the Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would “not allow Iran to entrench militarily on our border with Syria”, underscored that “Lebanon and Hizbollah will bear responsibility for any attack against us emanating from Lebanese territory” and indicated that “We are active in all arenas for the security of Israel – both close to our borders and far from them”. Hizbollah subsequently issued a statement maintaining it “did not engage in any clash, nor did it open fire during today’s incident… The scared and tense enemy unilaterally opened fire”. It further pledged an “inevitable” response to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in Syria and insisted that “today’s Israeli bombardment… will not remain unanswered”. Later in the day, Netanyahu asserted: “[Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is embroiling Lebanon because of Iran… we view the attempt to infiltrate our territory with great severity”. “Hizbollah needs to understand that it is playing with fire. Any attack against us will be met with great strength”, he added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that “we are acting according to our consistent policy of not allowing Iran to entrench militarily on our northern border. Lebanon and Syria bear the responsibility for any attack against Israel emanating from their territories”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited the northern border and listed “removing Iranian entrenchment in Syria, blocking the transfer of advanced [weapons] and preventing the development of precision [guided missiles] anywhere in the region – in Syria or in Lebanon” as Israel’s security interests. “We don’t want any unnecessary escalations, but anyone who tests us will be met by a very high capability to take action, and I hope we won’t need to use it”, he added, while further anticipating that “there can be [security] events on the border. We are prepared for all possibilities”.

The Israeli army reported that “during an Israel Defense Forces operation on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

The Israeli army confirmed that “explosions were heard adjacent to the security fence from the Syrian side of Israel’s northern border. Damage to a civilian building and an Israeli vehicle was likely caused by fragments”. It subsequently also raised “readiness to defend Israel’s northern border from all enemy threats with changes to troop deployment and enhanced field intelligence activity in the area”, asserting: “we hold the Lebanese government responsible for all actions emanating from Lebanon”. Later on, the IDF announced that “earlier today, munitions were fired from Syria toward Israel. In response, our aircraft struck military targets in southern Syria belonging to the Syrian Armed Forces”, describing these as “SAF observation posts and intelligence collection systems located in SAF bases”; Syria media reported two casualties. “We hold the Syrian regime responsible and will respond to any violation of Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF warned.

Media reports indicated that a suspected Israeli strike “hit weapons depots and military positions belonging to Syrian regime forces and Iran-backed militia fighters south of Damascus”. Syrian state media reported injuries to “at least seven Syrian troops”, while Hizbollah confirmed one fatality from its ranks. On 23 July, the Israeli army announced that “in accordance with a recently-concluded situational assessment, we have decided to reinforce the Northern Command with select infantry forces”. Responding to suggestions that Israel may have sent a message to Hizbollah after the incident, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said: “we acted against the entrenchment of Iran in Syria. If someone involved in Iran’s activities in Syria – which we will continue to act against – this is liable to happen. We take that into account”.

The Israeli military announced that “IDF soldiers spotted and monitored a drone infiltrating Israeli airspace from Lebanon… We will continue to operate to stop any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”.  

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon reportedly indicated that “Iran will support Lebanon in all the domains [electricity, medical drugs, agriculture, industry…] upon its request… [and] is ready to accept the Lebanese Pound in the trade exchanges with Beirut”. He added that he had been “meeting with the Lebanese officials to coordinate the economic cooperation”.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie visited Lebanon and met with senior Lebanese officials including President Aoun. During the visit, McKenzie emphasised that “we will continue to support the Lebanese armed forces as a sole armed representative of the government of the Lebanon”. He further described military cooperation between the two countries as “deep”, which would “transcend any perturbation of political things that might otherwise disturb it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah discussed “Iran’s readiness to sell Lebanon oil with the Lebanese pound” and stated: “I prefer that official talks between Lebanon and Iran take place away from media, and I can guarantee such offer… heading east is one of choices to confront starvation. This choice sends a message to the U.S. that whoever wants to besiege Lebanon will fail in this policy”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo subsequently underscored that Iranian oil “would be sanctioned product for sure, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that Iran cannot continue to sell crude oil anywhere, including to Hizbollah… Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation and we are supportive of Lebanon as long as they get the reforms right and they are not a proxy state for Iran”. Lebanon’s energy minister on 9 July indicated that “there is no plan to negotiate with Iran at present about importing fuel and the current discussion is with Iraq”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz argued that “Hizbollah has been building an Iranian-backed weapons arsenal and manufacturing precision-guided missiles that could reach any part of Israel. Lebanon will be held accountable should any of these missiles find a way to us”. “I expect it to practice a state of responsibility, especially as it seeks international funding”, he added. “Israel will not accept any excuses, and neither should anyone else”.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN called on the Security Council “to act swiftly and with great resolve to respond to the Iranian regime’s violations, by using all means necessary to extend the arms embargo on Iran beyond the current October deadline”. He argued that Iran’s “illicit arms to its proxies… freely transported throughout the Middle East and used by armed militias and terrorist groups, poses a strategic threat not only to Israel, but to the entire region”. “Through its Quds Force, Iran does not stop at the mere illicit transfer of arms to Hizbollah, but also contributes to the development of Hizbollah’s self-production capabilities”, he added. “This project, taking place on Lebanese soil, exploits the local population by using local civilians as human shield to conceal its illicit activities, thereby not only contravening multiple Security Council resolutions, but also violating international law”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook argued that “economic pressure and diplomatic isolation works. It is the only language that this regime understands. We have seen this across the Middle East… Iran is operating in a much less permissive environment than when we took office”. Citing protests in Lebanon and Iraq, Hook contended that “the Iranian model is being rejected… Iran is a failed model”.

The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon posited that “by its actions and threats, Hizbollah destabilises the country and jeopardises the country’s economic recovery”, adding that while Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah “accuses us of starving Lebanon”, this was “classic deflection blaming everything on the U.S. when we are [Lebanon’s] largest donor… [Hizbollah] siphoned off billions of dollars that should have gone into government coffers”. The ambassador further maintained that “we continue to have very serious reservations” regarding Prime Minister Diab’s independence from Hizbollah, “and we also have not yet seen what we would have hoped for from this government, in the way of concrete steps to implement reforms”. Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry subsequently summoned the ambassador, and a court issued an order “prohibit[ing] any Lebanese or foreign media outlet operating on Lebanese soil… from conducting any interview with the American Ambassador for a period of one year”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu opined that “three main challenges are before us, and we are taking action without respite against them: First, we are taking constant action against the efforts of Iran and its proxies to entrench militarily in Syria. The Iranian military must leave Syria. Second, we are taking action against the efforts of our enemies to develop precision missiles in Syria, Lebanon and other areas. Third, and most importantly, we will not allow Iran to attain nuclear weapons”. “Iran is continuing to lie to the international community in its effort to achieve a bomb”, Netanyahu argued. “I have been claiming this for years and today the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, understands this”. He further affirmed that “we regard with utmost seriousness the threats of destruction against Israel by Iranian and pro-Iranian elements… Whoever tries to attack us places himself in very great danger”.

Israel’s top military official assessed that “Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East… It has made considerable progress in its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat”. “Iran also holds conventional weapons”, he added. “It is supporting and financing our enemies in the first circle and chiefly Hizbollah, it influences and supports Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and it is behind attempts at terror actions against Israel in a variety of dimensions and arenas, near and far”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “the U.S. is using Lebanon and its economy to achieve their interests, among which are Israel’s security and the land and maritime borders”. He further affirmed that “whoever puts us between the option of withdrawing our weapons or killing us with hunger, we tell them: our weapons will remain in our hands and we will not starve, we will kill you”. Nasrallah also maintained that the “U.S.’s resort to Caesar’s Act is evidence of Syria’s victory in the military and field war, it is its last weapon… whoever calls to close [Lebanon’s] borders with Syria will later call us to open the borders with Israel”.

CENTCOM commander Kenneth McKenzie indicated that “we worry about their [ie, Hizbollah’s] relationship to Iran, although I do not think that the Lebanese Hizbollah necessarily answers immediately when Iran calls. I do think they have a strong and powerful relationship”.  He further maintained that “the counterbalance for us is the LAF, the Lebanese Armed Forces. Not a perfect relationship and not a perfect organisation by any means, but one that we should view, aspirationally, is ultimately the expression of state security in Lebanon”. “I know that people occasionally get frustrated with the LAF and we talk about cutting on and off funding”, he added, “[but] I support continued funding to the LAF because… it's the best that we can do under very difficult circumstances”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, meeting with his German counterpart, assessed that “the greatest threat to regional stability is Iran. Their nuclear program and regional ambitions remain a great concern. We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons and we will not allow Iranian entrenchment on our borders”. Ashkenazi went on to contend that “Iran’s backing of Hizbollah’s precision-guided missiles project should bring increasing international pressure. The aim of this project is to give Hizbollah a strategic offensive capability that would directly threaten Israel and Israeli civilians. We won't tolerate it”.

Israeli President Rivlin opined that “Hizbollah continues to entrench in Lebanon, gathering and arming itself with weapons to hurt Israel. We are determined to destroy these nests of terrorism, their operators and messengers”. “As long as Hizbollah is part of Lebanon, the Lebanese government is held responsible”, said Rivlin. “We will take every step to prevent war, but we will not hesitate to strike at our enemies”.

Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah argued that “Israel is aware that any attack on Lebanon will not pass without a response”, adding that “the latest Israeli attack on a car that had members of Hizbollah in it in the Syrian territories without causing casualties was not an Israeli error… Israel intended not to hurt the men in that car because it was aware that the equation today is that there would be a response on any assassination”. He further noted that “America wants to humiliate Lebanon and impose its conditions on it”… the solution for the economic crisis is to abandon U.S. satisfaction and head east [ie, China]”. Nasrallah also “ruled out [the possibility of] any war between the U.S. and Iran or between Israel and Lebanon unless the U.S. or Israel decide to make a stupid act”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the cabinet that “the security challenges have not stopped for a moment, neither have the threats. You certainly heard the ruler of Iran, Khamenei, threatening our destruction. Whoever threatens us with destruction will certainly not succeed, but places himself in great danger”. “Our policy is to oppose Iranian aggression in every place and to oppose Iran’s attempts to entrench in Syria”, Netanyahu added. “We are active constantly and… oppose Iran’s attempt to place or develop in Syria weapons to serve its proxies and forces that could endanger the State of Israel”. In related remarks, Defence Minister Benny Gantz indicated that “we are still keeping a close watch on the military fronts in Lebanon and Syria. The security problems that could happen in the north have not passed… We have to stretch our hand out to peace on every front – and have the military strength that can ensure we will reach peace and preserve it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah assessed that “we are so close to liberate al-Quds [ie, Jerusalem] thanks to faith, steadfastness, patience and sincerity of Axis of Resistance’s powers…We, Hizbollah, pledge to stand by the oppressed people of Palestine”. In related remarks two days later, Nasrallah acknowledged that “liberation cannot be achieved in one, two or three years. It could take generations”. He also contended that “any talk of an Israeli-U.S. direct war is far away, their priority is to compose sanctions… we are heading towards a new international and regional situation where new threats might appear”.  

The U.S. convened the UN “Security Council to meet under its 2231 Format to discuss Iran’s April 22 satellite launch”, which it called “yet another example of Iran’s relentless defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231”. According to the U.S. mission, its representatives “highlighted Iran’s ongoing violation of the UN arms embargo in Resolution 2231, reminding Council members that Iran continues to funnel weapons to proxy forces and terrorist groups in places like Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain”. The U.S. also argued that “Iran’s continued violations of the Security Council’s arms embargo demands greater pressure from the Security Council, not less, and the U.S. will work tirelessly with a coalition of concerned nations to ensure the embargo is extended”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that the “Israeli defence minister… is talking about fake victories in Syria. The Israelis lose the war in Syria, and they have been targeting all what is related to missiles manufacturing in Syria, because they believe that missiles pose a high risk to Israel”. Nasrallah also argued that Israel had “set a fake goal for Syria” in seeking an Iranian withdrawal, on the grounds that “there have been no Iranian troops in Syria but rather there have been military advisers who train forces and coordinate Tehran’s support to Damascus”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “Iran has been persistent in its efforts to establish this beachhead basically on Israel’s border and to bring in advanced weaponry and assets targeting Israel and moving equipment… through Syria to Hizbollah with this sort of land bridge. We see repeatedly, oftentimes with no claims of responsibility, that these assets are being hit with great regularity, just pounded, and it would make sense at a certain point that Iran would want to cut its losses and downsize its presence there just because it’s increasingly costly to them in terms of life and property”. The official added that the Iranians “would be well advised to start using some of this investment in this military infrastructure in Syria and with Hizbollah to start spending some of that money on their own people who are suffering terribly from COVID”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “Hizbollah is an enormous factor in this [Lebanese] government and it is a Hizbollah-backed government… We are not giving money to the Lebanese Ministry of Health because it is run by Hizbollah”. He further indicated the U.S. was “delivering humanitarian and food aid to suffering Lebanese and refugees” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked about reported Israeli strikes in Syria, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, noted that “the U.S. supports Israel’s efforts to secure its self-defence. Israel is facing an existential threat from Iran, as they have said a thousand times that their mission is to destroy Israel. The Iranians are in Syria in large numbers, passing on long-range weapon systems to Hizbollah that threaten Israel”. “We give the support that is needed for effective Israeli actions to protect itself, and in protecting itself it is protecting all neighbors of Assad: Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon”, he added. Jeffry also maintained that “our policy is that all Iranian-commanded forces have to leave Syria, along with frankly all other military forces that entered after 2011. This includes the U.S., if all of the reports are correct about the Israeli Air Force that would include the Israelis, and it would include the Turks… The Russians entered before 2011, therefore they are exempt”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Germany’s announcement that it had “banned all activities by the Shiite terrorist organisation Hizbollah”, and asserted that “all peace-loving countries need to condemn the terrorist organisations and not give them any direct or indirect assistance”. Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the German move “a valuable and significant step in the global fight against terrorism”, and urged “additional European countries and the European Union to adopt this necessary policy”. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also praised the announcement and argued that “obstructing this terrorist organisation’s ability to plot terrorist attacks and to raise money will further reduce Iran’s malign behaviour and influence”. Describing Hizbollah as “a terrorist organisation dedicated to advancing Iran’s malicious agenda”, Pompeo “urge[d] other EU member states to follow suit and hold Hizbollah accountable for its terrorist activities”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson emphasised that “the German government’s decision has been made with complete disrespect for the Lebanese government and nation, as Hizbollah is an official and legitimate part of that country’s government and parliament”. He further argued that Berlin “must be held accountable for the negative consequences of its decision for the fight against the true terrorist groups in the region”, referring to ISIS.

An Israeli military spokesperson reported that “we found three locations where our security fence along the Blue Line was damaged tonight. After searches, [there was] no risk of penetration into Israel”. He further asserted that “we hold the Lebanese government responsible for actions from its territory”.

The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a “short standoff” between Israeli and Lebanese forces. A UNIFIL spokesperson noted that “our troops were in the middle with the aim of preventing misunderstandings and decreasing tension… Shortly after the situation went back to normal”. The spokesperson also indicated that “no breach of the Blue Line occurred”.

Citing a Hizbollah official, media reports indicated that “two missiles from an Israeli drone targeted a four-wheel-drive vehicle carrying two members of Lebanon’s Hizbollah… near the Syria-Lebanon border, but neither person was hurt”.

A senior Hizbollah official asserted that “Hizbollah is now ready to confront any Israeli war on Lebanon whenever it erupts”. He further argued that “the U.S. administration enhances the [COVID-19] pandemic outbreak by insisting on its sanctions against certain countries and pirating the medical stuffs while being sent to EU states”.

The U.S. announced “a reward of up to $10 million for information on the activities, networks, and associates of Muhammad Kawtharani”, whom it described as “a senior leader of Hizbollah’s forces in Iraq”. According to the State Department, Kawtharani had “taken over some of the political coordination of Iran-aligned paramilitary groups formerly organised by Qassem Soleimani after Soleimani’s death”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “Hizbollah has fewer dollars today to engage in nefarious activity than they did when President Trump took office, and they will continue to have fewer dollars tomorrow until they fundamentally get the Iranian regime to change its model”. He further asserted that Iran used its resources “to take weaponry into Iraq, to underwrite Hizbollah and Lebanon and threaten Israel, all of the things that the Iranians have engaged in for so long, even in this [COVID-19] crisis the Iranian regime hasn’t ceased doing, that’s most unfortunate”. Pompeo added: “we hope that the people of Iran one day will get a regime with a change in outlook, a change which says, ‘no, we want to respect what the Iranian people truly want’”.

The U.S. State Department announced that “American citizen Amer Fakhoury, who has been in detention in Lebanon since September [2019], is returning to the U.S. where he will be reunited with his family and receive urgent medical treatment”. A senior U.S. diplomat subsequently emphasised that “Mr. Fakhoury was released by competent judicial authorities… We did not promise money, we did not promise to release prisoners, we did not promise not to designate any Lebanese officials, and we absolutely don’t talk to Hizbollah”. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that “the U.S. ha[d] been for six months exerting all forms of pressures and threats against Lebanon in order to release Fakhoury”.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced it had “designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) three Lebanon-based officials and twelve Lebanon-based entities linked to the Martyrs Foundation, part of Hizbollah's support network”. Secretary Mnuchin asserted that “Hizbollah profits from the sale of goods vital to the Lebanese peoples' health and economy, such as pharmaceuticals and gasoline... the Trump administration stands with the Lebanese people, and we are committed to exposing and holding accountable Hizbollah's terror-funding business schemes”. 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah assessed that “confrontation between the U.S. and the forces which reject to surrender to its will is inevitable” and stated that “all the regional peoples must be prepared for the key confrontation”. “The Israeli enemy”, he added, “has a major weakness which is the human losses; similarly, the Americans have their economic and financial situation as a point of fragility. Hizbollah hit the Israeli enemy at its weakness, so, likewise, we can concentrate on the U.S. economic interests”. Nasrallah further urged Iraqis “to respond to the U.S. crime of assassinating the two martyrs Hajj al-Muhandis and General Soleimani, preserve the Popular Mobilisation [Hashd al-Shaabi] in spite of the U.S. scheme to eradicate it, expel the U.S. forces of Iraq and strengthen the Iraqi role in the region”.

The Lebanese military announced that it had fired at an Israeli drone that entered Lebanon’s airspace, prompting the craft to withdraw.

Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett assessed that “for years on end, we have fought against the Iranian tentacles in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip, but we have not focused enough on weakening Iran itself. Now we are changing the paradigm, we are now engaged in a continued effort to weaken the Iranian octopus through economic, diplomatic and intelligence measures, as well as with military means and various other approaches”. Bennett further addressed Iran and stated: “you have no business being in Syria, and so long as you continue to build terrorist bases there, we will continue to hurt you even further”.

Referring to Iran’s failed attempt to launch a satellite earlier in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “I’ll tell you what else they’re failing at: in transferring weapons to Syria and Lebanon, because we are operating there all the time, including at this time”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo contended that “Hizbollah has now put down roots throughout the globe and in South America, and it’s great to see now multiple countries now having designated Hizbollah as a terrorist organization. It means we can work together to stamp out the security threat in the region”. “When we say that Iran is the leading destabilising force in the Middle East and throughout the world, it’s because of this terror activity that they have no spread as a cancer all across the globe”, Pompeo added.

Reacting to the formation of a new government in Lebanon, the U.S. State Department issued a statement indicating that “the test of Lebanon’s new government will be its actions and its responsiveness to the demands of the Lebanese people to implement reforms and to fight corruption...  We urge the government, army, and security services to guarantee the safety of citizens as they engage in peaceful demonstrations. Violence and provocative actions have no place in civil discourse”. Separately, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “we’re prepared to engage, provide support, but only to a government that’s committed to reform. That’s important for America”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised “ the announcements of Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala to designate Iran-backed Hizbollah a terrorist organisation”. “It and other transnational terrorist groups remain active in the region”, Pompeo added. “The U.S. continues to rally international support to counter these threats”.

The Israeli military announced that it had “started deploying highly-sophisticated technical infrastructure along Israel’s border with Lebanon. These sensors will identify and prevent underground construction of attack tunnels into Israel by the Hizbollah terror organisation in Lebanon”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, congratulated “the UK for announcing today that it has designated the entire Hizbollah organisation as a terrorist group and frozen its assets. There is no distinction between Hizbollah’s political arm and its military arm”. He further said that “when I was negotiating with the E3 on trying to fix the deficiencies of the Iran nuclear deal... this was a regular topic of the need to be designating Hizbollah in its entirety”. The next day, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz likewise welcomed the designation and described it as “a great achievement for Israel in the fight against Iran and its proxies”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “the response on the assassination [of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani] will be a long track that will end up in pulling the U.S. out of the region”. He further maintained that the “rest of the Axis of Resistance must begin operations. We are serious, and our goal is to force the U.S. out of our region. This is a long-term goal”.

Following the killing by the U.S. of Iran’s IRGC Qods Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “the minimal retaliation for the assassination of General Soleimani… is to expel foreign forces from Iraq and liberate it from U.S. troops”. “Iran can retaliate as it pleases, but this doesn’t exempt the Axis of Resistance from retaliation on its behalf”, Nasrallah added, stressing that “fair punishment means that U.S. forces, bases and warships must pay the price… The martyrs who blew themselves up and forced the U.S. troops out of the region in the past, are now many more”. “When the U.S. officers who came to the region vertically will return horizontally… Trump and his administration will realise that they lost the region and lost the elections. Those idiots don’t know what [they] did”.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued a security alert noting that “due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to maintain a high level of vigilance and practice good situational awareness".

The head of the IRGC's Qods force, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that "at the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani”, adding that "Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region". Iran confirmed Soleimani’s death, and the IRGC said that four other Qods force members along with five Iraqis, notably including a senior Hashd official, were also killed in the operation. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei subsequently asserted that "enemies should bear in mind that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take tough revenge on criminals over the martyrdom of General Soleimani".

Discussing government formation in Lebanon, a senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “the U.S. government has worked before with the Lebanese governments that have had Hizbollah… We find a way to work with the Lebanese government that is productive within certain constraints”. He further maintained that “our principles on Lebanon, notwithstanding who may or may not be the next prime minister… is that this government must be capable of and committed to pursuing reform and fighting corruption. We are highly skeptical that a government led by Hizbollah would be capable of or committed to fighting corruption. This is an organisation that depends greatly on corruption for its survival and funding its criminal enterprise and terrorist activities”.

Syrian state media reported that “army air defences intercepted hostile missiles coming from the occupied lands [ie, Israel]… one of the hostile targets fell in Aqraba region in Damascus countryside”. The Lebanese defence minister subsequently asserted that “this blatant attack is condemned, and I call on the international community to intervene to prevent these repeated attacks on Lebanon’s sovereignty”. A senior advisor to Iran’s supreme leader warned that “Israeli airstrikes against Syria will not go unanswered, and Tel Aviv will regret having committed these crimes… Sooner or later, Israel will receive a response for its aerial attacks on and crimes in Syria”.

The U.S. State Department reported that the eighth session of “the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG), which focuses on countering Hizbollah’s terrorist and illicit activities, convened at Europol’s headquarters in the Netherlands” concentrating on “Hizbollah’s financial, commercial, and procurement networks and schemes and their linkages to Hizbollah’s terrorist activity”.

Israel’s military chief of staff noted that “the IDF is fighting and operating daily and nightly on numerous fronts, which have grown in number recently, and the number of enemies is greater than the number of fronts. In Syria, for example, the [Iranian] Qods force and Hizbollah are operating, and in Lebanon, Iran's terrorist tentacles are solidifying their grip. He added that “any organisation, and especially the IDF, cannot be satisfied with maintaining and preserving the status quo. The IDF must change and innovate to beat its enemies to the punch and develop a significant advantage”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “the Americans assumed that the Lebanese protests are against Hizbollah and Iran, knowing that they did not propose anything like that. Their slogans were economic and righteous ones”. He added that “Hizbollah is a great threat. A threat on U.S. agendas and interests not on the Lebanese interests”. Nasrallah further maintained that “some think that if Iran was attacked it will refer to its allies to defend it, and let me correct this misconception and assure that Iran will defend itself by itself, it will not stay silent and will not accept to be defended by anyone… If its allies wanted to take action, that would be their own decision”. Prime Minister Netanyahu subsequently said: “I would like to make it clear that if Nasrallah dares to attack Israel, the organisation and the Lebanese state that enable aggression from its territory against us will pay a very heavy price”.

The U.S. Treasury Department designated “two prominent Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)-based money launderers and their affiliated companies, including those that have generated tens of millions of dollars for Hizbollah, its financiers and their malign activities”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that “we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to counter the threat Hizbollah poses”.

The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underlined that “responsibility for how the Government of Lebanon will be formed and shaped falls to the Lebanese people to demand Lebanese sovereignty, Lebanese prosperity, Lebanese freedom from influence, from outside entities. We have a designated terrorist organisation there, Hizbollah… I know that the people of Lebanon understand the risk that that presents to their freedom, their capacity to deliver for themselves. This is not an American proposition; it is the – a proposition of the Lebanese people”. “We do stand ready to do the things that the world can do to assist the Lebanese people of getting their economy righted, getting their government righted”, he added. On Iraq, Pompeo noted that “the Iraqi people want a sovereign, independent Iraq... we’re continuing our counterterrorism campaign in Iraq, and stand ready as the Iraqi government asks us to, to support the Iraqi people in ensuring that the influence from those who don’t want a sovereign, free, and independent Iraq don’t have their way inside of that country”.

Discussing protests in Lebanon, a senior U.S. diplomat asserted that “Iran’s support to the terrorist group Hizbollah has contributed to the group’s ability to exert domestic influence and put its own interests over those of the nation, leaving the Lebanese people on the losing end”. He further reiterated that “the U.S. also remains concerned about the role being played by Hizbollah, and its benefactor Iran. During these protests, Hizbollah, with some echoes from Russia, has tried to blame the U.S. for instigating the protests. These efforts have fallen short. Protestors in Lebanon know they are not the puppets of external influence”. “In stark contrast to Iran, which uses corruption to create openings to extend its influence, we are offering a positive vision”, he added.

Speaking alongside U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “we have been fortunate that President Trump has led a consistent policy of pressure against Iran. Iran is increasing its aggression as we speak even today in the region. They’re trying to have staging grounds against us and the region from Iran itself, from Iraq, from Syria, from Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen, and we are actively engaged in countering that aggression”. Netanyahu further maintained that “Iran’s aggression is growing, but its empire is tottering. And I say let’s make it totter even further”. Secretary Pompeo, citing unrest in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran, stated that “some of these are people that are seeking freedom and a reasonable way to live, and they recognise the threat that is posed by the kleptocrats that are running the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Discussing protests in Lebanon, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo maintained that “you have Christians, Sunni Muslims, you have people from all across Lebanon just demanding basic autonomy for the nation. They want Hizbollah and Iran out of their country, out of their – out of their system as a violent and repressive force inside of their country”.

Confirming the release of U.S. aid to the Lebanese Armed Force (LAF), a senior U.S. diplomat acknowledged that “there were some disagreements about the efficacy of U.S. aid to the LAF”, but added that the LAF “is a national institution. It defends Lebanon’s borders. It is an excellent partner to the U.S. in counterterrorism, in fighting Sunni jihadi Islamists. They have developed in recent years a high level of capability on that regard”. He added that “they have responded in recent weeks… in impressive fashion in terms of protecting demonstrators from violence, demonstrating, I think, the fact that they are a national institution”. The senior diplomat also noted that “there are detractors who would point to incidents, isolated incidents, of deconfliction with Hizbollah in certain areas. But this is an institution that nonetheless has great merit”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “in Tehran, in Baghdad, in Beirut, people are taking to the streets. They are being slaughtered by the hundreds, yet they continue to protest. The tyrants of Tehran shoot them to no avail”. “In Baghdad”, he continued, “Iran's cronies have killed hundreds of Iraqis… In Beirut, Hizbollah thugs attack peaceful demonstrators”. “What is driving these people to risk their lives and stand up to their oppressors?”, Netanyahu asked. “The answer is simple. They are fed up. They're fed up with corruption. They're fed up with failing economies. They're fed off with the siphoning off of their treasure and their lives to Iran's wars of aggression in the region”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that “President Trump’s strategic effort certainly includes sanctions as an element of our efforts to make the [Iranian] leadership change their ways. But it is only one component, we think that has been an effective component, we think they are having to make very difficult choices about whether to feed their people, to provide medicine for their people or if they want to underwrite the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza or Hizbollah in Lebanon”. “We hope they will begin to make the right decision, we hope the people in Iraq will force them to make the right decision”, he added. Pompeo went on to elaborate that “our campaign has also been political and diplomatic, to get countries around the world to recognise Iran as the largest state sponsor of terrorism... We are trying to unite the world alongside us, including the Europeans, who have taken a very different approach on the JCPOA, and President Trump is working to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran knows that they cannot engage in an activity like they have without there being a cost”. He additionally referred to “an increase in our deterrence capabilities by our activity in the Strait of Hormuz” as well as military deployments and weapons sales to U.S. allies in the Gulf and stated: “we hope that the combination of those things will restore deterrence to a level that is satisfactory, and the leadership will understand that there is a cost to their malign activity wherever it takes place”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stressed that “Hizbollah and its Iranian patron have taken Lebanon hostage. Their actions endanger stability and peace. Israel is determined to prevent Iranian efforts to arm Hizbollah in a manner that threatens the citizens of Israel”.

Discussing Lebanon, a senior U.S. diplomat underscored “the urgency for political leaders to quickly form a capable and responsive government backed by the Lebanese people that is dedicated to enacting reforms and ending endemic corruption”. He further emphasised that “no party should be perpetrating violence against other parties”, and assessed that “the Lebanese people have shown… that they’re fed up and they want a new kind of government, but this is up to them entirely”.

A senior Hizbollah official contended that “the first obstruction in the formation of the government is America, because it wants a government that resembles it and we want a government that resembles the Lebanese people”. “Let them leave us alone so we can reach an understanding among ourselves. The more they intervene the more they delay the solution”, he added.

Referring to protests in Lebanon, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “we remain committed to a brighter future for Lebanon and proudly stand with the Lebanese people in their peaceful demonstrations calling for reforms and an end to corruption”. “The U.S. stands ready to work with a new Lebanese government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens and has the capacity and political will to build a stable, prosperous, independent and secure Lebanon for all”, Pompeo added.

Israel’s foreign minister contended that “now is the time for the world, led by the U.S., to have an effective military threat against the Iranian regime, if it will continue its nuclear program”. He added that “we will strike at whomever threatens us… That is what we have always done, and what we will continue to do in the future”. Commenting on the U.S. maximum pressure policy, the foreign minister indicated that “we see the demonstrations in Iraq, Lebanon and also in Iran, and it is clear that the pressure is working… the public in the Arab states and in Iran itself are rising against Iran’s brutal oppression”. He further underscored that “we have no conflict with the Gulf states, and we have common interests in the field of security against the Iranian threat”.

Iranian President Rouhani remarked that "we have no doubt that if the Iraqi people take to the streets to solve problems, have more prosperity and warn their rulers, they [the U.S.] want to take advantage of it and transform this popular movement into killing and discord, or when the Lebanese people want to solve their problems by holding protests and gatherings, the country that wants to take advantage of it and turn the protests into a civil war is America”.

A U.S. senior official remarked that “we consider the funding of the LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces] to be a good investment. Of course we listen to our ally Israel and we will take their request [that military aid be contingent on curtailing Hizbollah’s missile capabilities] under consideration”. He further elaborated that “the U.S. has a lot of confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces, and thinks they’re an excellent partner in fighting Sunni jihadist terrorists. And we think that it’s a valuable bilateral security arrangement. And we plan on continuing it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah argued that “when we say that we need a sovereign government, we mean that it rejects the U.S. orders and follows the national interests. The Americans are to be blamed for impeding the economic process in Lebanon, and the Lebanese officials are expected to hold their responsibilities”. Nasrallah also asserted that “claims that missiles will be sent to Hizbollah via the al-Bukamal border crossings are baseless. We have an overload of missiles in Lebanon, and we don’t know where to store them”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “the struggle for freedom continues… we see it in the streets of Beirut. We see it in the streets of Baghdad, where people are rising up against the Islamic Republic of Iran. They want to be Lebanese, not Hizbollah. They want to be Iraqi, not part of an Iranian militia”.

Iran's military chief of staff reiterated that “the enemies have in recent days implemented plots in Lebanon and Iraq to misuse people's righteous demands and empower proxy governments but senior clerics and the Lebanese and Iraqi people confronted their plots”. “No one is entitled to interfere in these countries”, he added. 

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin contended that “Iran continues to spread terror throughout the region. It continues to build military bases and plan attacks from Syria, and other parts of the region, Lebanon and even Yemen”. “Our enemies”, he added, “must know the state of Israel will do everything needed to defend its citizens”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo argued that “the Iraqi and Lebanese people want their countries back. They are discovering that the Iranian regime’s top export is corruption, badly disguised as revolution”. Pompeo went on to assert that “Iraq and Lebanon deserve to set their own courses free from [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei’s meddling”. 

The U.S. State Department in its Country Reports on Terrorism 2018 evaluated that “Hizbollah remained Iran’s most powerful terrorist partner and the most capable terrorist organisation in Lebanon, controlling areas across the country”. It went on to assess that “Iran’s annual financial backing to Hizbollah, an estimated $700 million per year, accounts for the overwhelming majority of the group’s annual budget. Hizbollah’s presence in Lebanon and Syria continued to pose a threat to Israel”. “Israeli security officials and politicians”, the report noted, “expressed concerns that Iran was supplying Hizbollah with advanced weapons systems and technologies, as well as assisting the group in creating infrastructure that would permit it to indigenously produce rockets and missiles to threaten Israel from Lebanon and Syria”.

Hizbollah asserted that it had “confronted with the appropriate weapons an enemy drone in the skies of southern Lebanon and obliged it to leave the Lebanese airspace”. The Israeli military stated that “an anti-aircraft missile was launched over Lebanese territory towards an IDF UAV. The UAV was not hit”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “the area around us is stormy and restive. Threats lurk in every corner – in Syria, in Lebanon, in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Iraq, Yemen and directly in Iran. Where not? Iranian and pro-Iranian forces are relentlessly arming themselves”. He went on to assert that “we are prepared for the threats and will not hesitate to strike harshly at anyone who tries to attack us. Iran’s threshold of daring in the region is rising and it grows even more in the absence of a response. However, Israel will not turn the other cheek. Whoever is bent on aggression – will meet with a vigorous response, and will pay a heavy price”.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and four other members of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against “25 targets affiliated with the Iranian regime’s terror-support networks in the region”. According to the Treasury Department, the designation was “focussed on entities supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s regional proxy, Hizbollah”. Secretary Mnuchin commented that “this action demonstrates the unified position of the Gulf nations and the U.S. that Iran will not be allowed to escalate its malign activity in the region”.  

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reacted to protests in Iraq and Lebanon by calling on “those who care in Iraq and Lebanon [to] remedy the insecurity and turmoil created in their countries by the U.S., the Zionist regime [Israel], some western countries and the money of some reactionary countries… the people have justifiable demands, but they should know their demands can only fulfilled within the legal structure and framework”. Khamenei added that “the enemies engaged in the same plots against Iran; but fortunately, people acted in a timely manner, and the sedition was nullified”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation amid nationwide protests in the country. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo urged “Lebanon’s political leaders to urgently facilitate the formation of a new government that can build a stable, prosperous and secure Lebanon that is responsive to the needs of its citizens”, adding that the protests showed that “the Lebanese people want an efficient and effective government, economic reform and an end to endemic corruption”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that “Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons. It’s transgressing on its agreement and commitment. Iran wants to develop precision guided missiles that can hit any target in Israel within five to ten meters. It’s doing that. Iran wants to use Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles.” He went on to assert that “to ward off this danger… you have to be strong militarily. And to be strong militarily, we have to shift now money from the civilian areas to the military areas”.

Speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Prime Minister Netanyahu argued that “Iran is seeking to develop now precision-guided munitions, missiles that can hit any target in the Middle East with a circumference of five to ten metres. They are developing this in Iran. They want to place them in Iraq and in Syria, and to convert Lebanon’s arsenal of 130,000 statistical rockets to precision-guided munitions. They seek also to develop that, and have already begun to put that in Yemen, with the goal of reaching Israel from there, too”. He further asserted that “Iran is the single greatest threat to stability and peace in the Middle East”, and urged Mnuchin “to put even more” sanctions on Iran.

Amid protests in Lebanon, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “everyone should take responsibility rather than being preoccupied with settling political scores while leaving the fate of the country unknown”. He further asserted that “all of us have to shoulder the responsibility of the current situation that we arrived at in Lebanon. Everyone should take part in finding a solution”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “Saudi Arabia is highly advised to stop the war on Yemen instead of seeking to purchase advanced air defence missile systems. All costly weapons purchased [from] the U.S. cannot protect you from [Huthi] drone attacks”. Nasrallah added that “a military aggression on Iran will never be to the benefit of Saudi Arabia and the UAE”.

Iran’s President Rouhani remarked that “it is strange that the enemies of the region have not yet understood the power of the regional nations’ resistance… instead of admitting that Lebanon’s Hizbollah has high capabilities and power both in scientific and military knowledge and bravery in the field, or that a part of brave young people of Iraq have liberated different cities across the country from the hands of terrorists, and instead of admitting to the growth and greatness of nations like Syria and Yemen, they are seeking to accuse others”.

President Rouhani stated that Israel “has increased the number of its acts of aggression on the Syrian soil in recent months, and its officials have claimed responsibility for the aggressions and have extended their attacks to Iraq and Lebanon”. He further asserted that “these attacks are a clear example of provocative and illegal hostile acts that can cause widespread tension and conflict in the region”.

A senior U.S. Treasury Department official argued that “Iran’s economy bankrolls its aggression.  That is why Treasury is actively targeting Iran’s key industries: to drive the realisation by Iran’s Supreme Leader that economic collapse is inevitable if Iran does not stop its sponsorship of terror and proliferation activities, and return to the negotiating table”. He added that “our efforts are having an impact, leaving Iran with scarce funds to spend on its perfidious pursuits… consequences for Iran continue to mount, and will do so for as long as the regime maintains on its current course”. The official went on to say that “Hizbollah is also feeling the squeeze”, asserting that that “just as we have done to Iran, we are demonstrating our resolve to dismantle Hizbollah’s financial infrastructure, root and stem”.  

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “in the future we will designate… individuals in Lebanon who are aiding and assisting Hizbollah, regardless of their sect or religion”.

En route to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “at this time, we are operating on several fronts, 360 degrees, in order to ensure the security of Israel in the face of the attempts of Iran and its proxies to attack us, and we are working against them. The Syrian arena is the main one… it is important that we continue to maintain freedom of action for the IDF, including the air force, against Iranian, Hizbollah and other terrorist targets”. Netanyahu added that “this trip is designed to continue this important cooperation, which prevents collisions between us and the Russian forces, and to continue to advance the common goal that we agree on, which has yet to be achieved and which is far from being achieved, and that is the withdrawal of Iran from Syria”.

The Arab Quartet Ministerial Committee for Follow-up of the Crisis with Iran and Response to its Interventions in Arab Internal Affairs, chaired by the UAE and including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, “condemned Iran's continued support for terrorist and subversive acts in the Arab countries, including the continued firing of Iranian-made ballistic missiles from Yemeni territory into populated cities in the Kingdom”. It also denounced remarks by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s as “intended to provoke sedition and incite hatred; and which is an extension of the dangerous role of this terrorist party, which is considered as one of the arms of Iran aiming to destabilise the security and stability in the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded that “the rehash of groundless accusations against [Iran’s] eternal ownership of its three islands in the Persian Gulf and the blame game by some Arab countries whose regional policies have failed are… the reason behind their failure to understand the realities of the region and the world”. He went on to say that “it is regrettable that some, instead of relying on the power of Persian Gulf states, make divergent, unfounded and undocumented allegations about the security of the region and welcome foreigners with their desperation”.

President Trump signed an Executive Order on Modernising Sanctions to Combat Terrorism. Secretary of State Pompeo explained that it “enhances the U.S.’s ability to target and deprive terrorists and their enablers of financial, material, and logistical support worldwide”.  It also provides authorities “to directly target leaders of terrorist groups and their associated entities without having to tie terrorist leaders to specific acts”, he added. Pompeo indicated that “the State Department is moving aggressively to implement these new authorities”, including designations against Hizbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials. In parallel, the U.S. Treasury Department designated “15 leaders, individuals, and entities affiliated with terror groups”, including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods force. Iran’s Foreign Minister responded that “as the world—minus three or two panicked cohorts—was breathing a sigh of relief over ouster of the B-Team's henchman in the White House, Pompeo and Mnuchin declared further escalation of economic terrorism against Iran”. He went on to say that the “thirst for war – maximum pressure – should go with the warmonger-in-chief”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that “we reject any war plans against the Iranian republic, because such a war will ignite the region and destroy countries and peoples. It will be a war against the entire axis of resistance”. He went on to say that “this supposed war will be the end of Israel and the American hegemony and presence in the region”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, argued that “Iran is using Yemen to increase its status as a regional power… Iran has provided the Huthis with hundreds of millions of dollars and an arsenal of advanced weaponry”. “Iran’s strategic alliance with the Huthis”, Hook wrote, “allows them to target Gulf nations at will with missile and UAV attacks, and to inspire, organise, and direct militant separatist groups in Saudi Arabia’s provinces”. He also posited that Iran’s “alliance with the Huthis now allows Iran to threaten ship traffic in the Bab al-Mandab strait”, and indicated that “newly declassified information shows that Hizbollah is actively supporting the Huthi cause in Yemen, bringing Iran’s proxy network full circle”. Hook went on to underscore that “the Trump administration is focused on reversing Iran’s strategic gains in the region as part of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign”, and contended that “the Huthis have little gain and a lot to lose by continuing their partnership with Iran”.

Hizbollah announced it had shot down an Israeli drone in Lebanese airspace and retrieved the debris; the IDF acknowledged losing a drone but disputed Hizbollah’s claim of downing it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “I had an important meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defence Esper. We discussed the entire region from Iran, to Syria, Lebanon, Hizbollah and the various challenges and attacks against us, actions we took to thwart them, coordination we are called upon to make especially regarding Syria”.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned “a large shipping network that is directed by and financially supports the IRGC Qods force and its terrorist proxy Hizbollah”. Secretary of State Pompeo commented that “maximum pressure continues… the Iranian regime funds the murderous Assad and terrorist proxies like Hizballah through its illicit oil sales. We’ll continue to deny Iran the resources it needs to destabilise the Middle East”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu commended “remarks by the foreign ministers of Bahrain and the UAE against Hizbollah’s aggression”, and praised the U.S. for imposing sanctions against “the bank that provides Hizbollah with most of its funds”. He further remarked that “I defined three main goals for the IDF and the security arms in the following order: First of all, to stop and prevent the Iranian nuclear project. Second, to prevent Iran from supplying our enemies and its proxies, such as Hizbollah and others, with precision weapons that endanger us. And third, to prevent Iran and its proxies from entrenching on our borders”. Netanyahu added that “in effect, we are acting vis-à-vis all of these goals, in part openly and a considerable part covertly. We are determined to maintain the security of Israel”.

The Israeli military published imagery of an alleged Hizbollah site in the Beqaa within which, it posited, “is Iranian-supplied machinery used to manufacture precision-guided missiles”.

One day after the Israeli military and Hizbollah exchanged fire, Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “we acted yesterday with determination and responsibility. We maintained the security of our citizens and the safety of our soldiers. The man in the bunker in Beirut [i.e. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah] knows exactly why he is in a bunker”. Netanyahu added that “we will continue to do everything necessary in order to maintain the security of Israel – on land and sea, and in the air, and we will continue to act against the threat of precision-guided missiles”. In remarks the same day, Nasrallah contended that “we’ve punished the enemy” and suggested “the start of a new stage of the situation at the border”. He went on to say that “we have a new target, which is the Israeli drones… we will confront these drones in the Lebanese skies”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned what he described as Israel’s “blatant breach” of Lebanese sovereignty.

President Rouhani spoke by phone with his French counterpart and asserted that “if Europe cannot put its commitments into operation, Iran will take the third step in reducing its JCPOA commitments, which of course will be reversible”. He additionally underscored “that the continuation of negotiations for settling problems is the right decision and we need to continue along this path until we reach a desired point”. Rouhani also told Macron that “the leaders of the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] have made countless miscalculations towards other countries like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, and they are announcing their acts of aggression proudly instead of apologising”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told French President Macron that “Israel would defend itself against aggression against it and prevent its enemies who seek its destruction from arming themselves with lethal weaponry”. He further noted that “those who provide shelter for aggression and arming will not be immune. Netanyahu also advised Macron that “the present – when Iran is stepping up its aggression in the region – is precisely the wrong time to talk with Iran”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri reportedly told the UN Secretary-General “that Israel is fully responsible of its unjustified attack on a populated residential area in the Beirut suburbs, unprecedented since 2006”. He further asserted that “this unacceptable act threatens the stability and calm that have been prevailing on the international borders for 13 years and warned that any escalation by Israel threatens to drag the region into a conflict with unpredictable consequences”.

The Israeli military published the names and photos of three individuals whom it said where “Iranian commanders… working on a secret project with Hizbollah to manufacture precision-guided missiles to attack Israel”. Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “we will not stand to the side and allow our enemies to acquire deadly weapons to use against us. This week, I already told our enemies to be careful with their actions. Now I am telling them: Dir balak [watch out]”.

The Treasury Department announced sanctions against “financial facilitators responsible for moving tens of millions of dollars between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Hamas’ operational arm”. In a press statement, Secretary of State Pompeo indicated that “today’s designation reflects our determination to counter Iran’s malign influence and the financial, material, or technological support, or financial or other services to or in support of Hamas”. The Treasury Department also sanctioned Jammal Trust Bank in Lebanon, along with its subsidiaries, asserting that it “knowingly facilitates banking activities for Hizbollah”. Secretary Pompeo said the bank’s “misconduct undermines the integrity of the Lebanese financial system”, adding that “today’s designation deflects our determination to counter Hizbollah’s terrorist and illicit activities in Lebanon”.  Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised “the important decision to impose sanctions on a Lebanese bank that serves as an Iranian financing arm for the Hizbollah terrorist organisation. This is an important step designed to put pressure on Iran and its proxies, which are acting against the State of Israel”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that “I heard [Hizbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah’s remarks. I suggest that Nasrallah relax. He knows very well that the State of Israel knows how to defend itself and how to pay back its enemies”. Netanyahu continued by saying that “I want to tell him and the Lebanese state, which is sheltering this organisation that aspires to destroy us, and I also say this to [Qods force commander] Qassem Soleimani: Be careful with your words and be even more careful with your actions”.

Lebanese media claimed that Israel “last night executed three air raids that targeted the anti-Lebanon region… in central Bekaa, where military outposts for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine under the command of Ahmed Jebril are located”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “Iran is operating on a broad front to carry out murderous terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Israel will continue to defend its security however that may be necessary”. He also urged “the international community to act immediately so that Iran halts these attacks”.

The Lebanese military stated that “two Israeli enemy drones violated Lebanese airspace… the first drone crashed and the second drone exploded in the air causing material damages”. Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that a response “may take place at any time on the borders and beyond the borders”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that “I don’t grant Iran immunity anywhere. Iran is a state, a power, that has sworn to annihilate Israel. It’s trying to establish bases against us everywhere. In Iran itself, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen”. Netanyahu went on to say that “we’re acting not only if necessary, we’re acting in very many theatres against a state that seeks to annihilate us. Obviously I’ve given the security forces the order and the operation freedom to do what is necessary in order to disrupt these plots by Iran”.

Secretary of State Pompeo contented that “we're going to continue to do our best to ensure that particular shipment [of crude oil aboard the Grace 1/Adrian Darya 1 tanker] doesn't get into the hands of terrorists so it can risk American lives or lives of citizens in any other part of the world”. He further underscored that “we put in place a set of sanctions designed to deny the ayatollah the wealth to terrorise the world conventionally or with nuclear weapons, and we've been pretty effective”. We can see with Hizbollah…we can see with the Shiite forces in Iraq. We can see that they have fewer dollars. They're having to make really difficult decisions about whether to spend money on defence or just spend money back home”. He added that “we hope they will ultimately conclude that the best thing to do is to rejoin the community of nations, to stop conducting assassination campaigns in Europe, to cease with terror operations supporting Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip or Hizbollah in Lebanon and Syria”. “I don’t know that they will”, Pompeo assessed. “They’re pretty wedded to it, it’s ideological. It’s not even about logic. It’s deeply ingrained in their revolutionary culture, and we hope that the Iranian people will see a way to get the leadership in Iran to change its behaviour”.

Secretary of State Pompeo applauded “Paraguay’s decision to designate Hizbollah, al-Qaeda, ISIS and Hamas as terrorist organisations”. He added that “Hizbollah is a violent proxy of the Iranian regime and has no business being in South America. We call on all nations to take action against Iran-sponsored terrorism”.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Secretary of State Pompeo reiterated that “the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies continue to foment terror and unrest in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen with devastating humanitarian consequences”, adding that “since the U.S. declared our intention to bring all Iranian oil purchases to zero in April, the ayatollah has gone all in on a campaign of extortion diplomacy”. He also indicated that “we are already tracking very closely the JCPOA provisions expiring in October of 2020, namely the UN arms embargo and the travel restrictions on Qasem Soleimani”. “Time is drawing short to continue this activity of restricting Iran’s capacity to foment its terror regime”, Pompeo argued. “The international community will have plenty of time to see how long it has until Iran is unshackled to create new turmoil, and figure out what it must do to prevent this from happening”. At a press conference, Pompeo stated that “Iran’s continued development and testing of advanced ballistic missiles in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is also an issue that the international community must address”.

Secretary of State Pompeo argued that “we’ve put in place a set of sanctions that have denied the Iranian regime wealth, and we can see that that is working. Hizbollah has less money.  Some of the proxy forces have fewer resources. The Iranian leadership is having to make difficult choices about how to spend its now limited money”. He added that “the Iranian people know that the terror campaign, the revolutionary campaign that their leaders are undertaking, isn’t in their best interests, and I hope that the Iranian people work to change the behaviour of the Iranian regime”. Elsewhere, he declared that “we have managed to take almost 2.7 million barrels [per day] of crude oil off of the markets by denying Iran the wealth to create their terror campaign around the world and we have managed to keep the oil markets fully supplied.  I’m confident we can continue to do that”.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah stated that “I tell the Israeli enemy that if you enter the south [of Lebanon]… your army will be defeated and your vehicles will be destroyed”. He further contended that “today Israel doesn’t consider waging a war on Lebanon because it is aware of its power of deterrence and because it is aware that any war on Lebanon would not only be against Hizbollah but it would explode the whole region”. “A war on Iran is a war on the resistance in the whole region”, Nasrallah added. The following day Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “we are not impressed by Nasrallah's threats. He knows very well why he broadcasts them from the depths of his bunker”.

In remarks alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that “we continue to support the credible state institutions inside of Lebanon. They are essential to preserving Lebanese security, stability and sovereignty, and they are essential to making sure that the needs of all of the Lebanese people are met”. Pomepo added that “they are also essential to an effective response to the many political, economic and humanitarian challenges in Lebanon. This is a region that is threatened by Iran and is a nation threatened by its proxy Hizbollah, and we welcome the prime minister’s courageous commitment to keep taking full responsibility for Lebanon’s defence”. Pompeo also emphasised “that U.S. sanctions against Hizbollah members and its supporters will continue”.

The Treasury Department announced sanctions on “a senior member of Hizbollah’s External Security Organization (ESO), which is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of terrorist attacks outside of Lebanon”. A senior Treasury Department official stated that “this Administration will continue to target Hizbollah terrorists who plot horrific murderous operations and indiscriminately kill innocent civilians on behalf of this violent group and its Iranian patrons”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “In Operation Northern Shield, we neutralised the terrorist tunnels that Hizbollah had dug into our territory over the years. I do not want to expand here on the other actions that we are taking. The surprise will come in its time. We do not rejoice in war, but if it is forced on us we will strike the enemy decisively”. Netanyahu added that “we are working without respite to thwart Iran’s efforts to channel funds and weapons to Hizbollah…without the Iranian oxygen pipeline, Hizbollah could not exist for very long.”. He went on to say that “if we have to stand alone against Iran and its proxies – we will do so. Thus we have acted in Syria in order to prevent Iranian forces from entrenching themselves there. We will not allow a second Lebanon in Syria”. “The principle that has guided my government is simple”, Netanyahu asserted. “Whoever rises up to kill you, prevent him from arming himself, especially with advanced, equilibrium-changing weapons”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told a visiting French delegation that “it's very important that France and the rest of Europe… declare Hizbollah as a terrorist group. It's the major terrorist organization in the Middle East and in the world, and it's operating terrorists on European soil”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri described recent U.S. sanctions against Hizbollah political and security figures as indicating a “new course”, but added that “this will not affect parliament or the work that we do both in parliament and in the Council of Ministers”. He went to say that “it is important that we preserve the banking sector and the Lebanese economy and God willing, this crisis will pass sooner or later”.

The Treasury Department announced sanctions on three “key Hizbollah political and security figures leveraging their privileged positions to facilitate Hizbollah’s malign agenda and do Iran’s bidding”. Secretary of State Pompeo commented that “today’s sanctions against senior Hizbollah officials are part of the U.S.’ effort to counter Hizbollah’s corrupting influence in Lebanon”.

At the Christians United For Israel summit, Secretary of State Pompeo remarked that “we’ve implemented the strongest pressure campaign in history against the Iranian regime, and we are not done. We’ve cut off billions in funds that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s leadership would have used for various nefarious purposes, not the least of which would have been their efforts to destroy the state of Israel”. Pompeo added that “it is also the case that under President Trump, the Israel haters such as Hamas and Hizbollah and Islamic Jihad receive far less blood money from Iran to pursue their terrorism than ever in recent history”. National Security Advisor John Bolton also stated that “ we will continue to increase the pressure on the Iranian regime until it abandons its nuclear weapons program and ends its violent activities across the Middle East, including conducting and supporting terrorism around the world”.

The head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service declared that “we can’t agree to Syria becoming a staging ground for Iranian forces or forces operated by it against us. We can’t agree to Syria becoming a logistics base for transferring weapons to Hizbollah and Lebanon. Israel has taken action in the past four years, overtly and covertly, about which only a small amount has been published, in order to block the entrenchment and the production lines of precision-guided munitions”. The Mossad chief added that “thanks to this effort, I believe the Iranians will reach the conclusion that it’s not worth it for them”. He also indicated that “Iran and Hizbollah are asking to move their bases to northern Syria, an area that they mistakenly believe will be difficult for us to reach. In addition, they are establishing bases and precision missile facilities in Iraq… and Lebanon”.

At a military exercise, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that “I hear our neighbours from the north, south and east threatening our destruction. I say to our enemies: The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has very great destructive power. Don’t test us.”

According to the Israeli military, a drone entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon and subsequently withdrew back behind the frontier. 

A senior Israeli military official maintained that "Hizbollah's loyalty was and remains to the Supreme Leader of Iran, not to the citizens of Lebanon. As a direct result of this, the nation of Lebanon will pay a heavy price in the next campaign for cooperating with Shiite terror". He went to pledge that "Israel will not allow [Hizbollah] to fulfill its plans and the destructive ambitions that it and its patron Iran have... we will continue to thwart Hizbollah's efforts to threaten our security both overtly and covertly, as necessary. And if a war is forced upon [us], we will exact a heavy price from this organisation and from those who provide it cover - wherever is necessary".

Iran released Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen and U.S. permanent resident arrested in 2015. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated that "we're thankful for the release of the individual in Iran", adding that "the big question is there's several others and we want to see those people released as well". 

A senior Israeli defence official assessed that "Iran is under growing pressure that is forcing it to take actions connected to oil and its nuclear project - though for now there are no changes to its policies". Referring to Hizbollah, he indicated that "to the best of our understanding, their capabilities, their missiles, are still not precise". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that "Iran transfers $700 million to Hizbollah per annum", part of which "is transferred under diplomatic cover, by seemingly innocent means, to Lebanon and from there to Hizbollah". "These enormous amounts fuel the relentless aggression by Iran and its proxies in the region", Netanyahu continued. He added that "while we do not make light of Iran's threats, neither are we deterred by them because anyone who tries to hurt us will be hurt far worse... we proved it just last night".

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah posited that “one reason that there’s no war is that Iran is strong, otherwise the war could have been launched. The other reason is that the CIA knows that a war on Iran will set the region on fire and won’t stop behind its borders. …The whole region will ignite and the U.S. troops and interests will exterminate if a war on Iran was launched.” Warning Israel that Hizbollah would respond to any Israeli aggression, Nasrallah declared that “we have in Lebanon precision rockets that are able to target direct posts in Israel and that would change the face of the region”.

At a press conference with German Foreign Minister Maas, Secretary Pompeo opined that the U.S. was “hoping to get Germany’s help…in recognizing Hizbollah as a unified entity and banning it from Germany as our ally, the United Kingdom, did this year”. 

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that “Hizbollah has been Iran’s favourite child… and it’s a model that they try to replicate around the Middle East”. “We are doing, of course, everything we can to deter any shipments of weapons or illegal goods”, he continued, adding that “what we’ve been very pleased with is the fact that Hizbollah is struggling financially…our goal is for that to continue as long as possible”. Hook went on to argue that “we very much support Lebanese sovereignty and independence. Iran…would like to see a Lebanon that they dominate”.

The U.S.’ diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “our maximum pressure campaign on Iran is designed to deny the Iranian regime, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism, the means to conduct its destructive foreign policy. Our campaign is working”. She elaborated that “the campaign is starving Iran’s proxies of the funds they rely on to operate on behalf of the regime”, citing examples including Hizbollah, Hamas, the Syrian government and Shiite militias in Iraq. She went on to affirm that “we will continue to apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deny it the means to conduct its destructive foreign policy and compel the regime to negotiate a comprehensive new deal that addresses the full scope of its malign behaviour”, while also indicating that “there is a path forward and we will talk tomorrow if they would like to see the bright future that we believe is there for the Iranian people”. The spokesperson further indicated that “we do not want a war with Iran. We want to de-escalate with Iran. In fact, what we seek is to end economic sanctions, to end the maximum pressure campaign”.

The Israeli military published video footage of a Hizbollah tunnel, noting that it was “the longest and most significant” of the other five that they had found since January 2019.

Hizbollah parliamentarians characterised U.S. sanctions against Iran as "unjustified" and reflective of a "tyrannical and dictatorial trend" in Washington. 

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah maintained that "despite our points of weakness, the resistance's readiness has not been affected despite the harsh sanctions imposed against us". He also pledged that "all Israeli brigades which will enter Lebanon will be destroyed before the eyes of the mainstream media and the entire world". 

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil asserted with respect to the U.S. sanctions that "we reject these punitive measures whether they're against Iran or Syria... however, Lebanon complies with all international procedure regarding financial transactions". He also indicated, with respect to sanctions against Hizbollah, that "there are effects [for Lebanon] but we have the ability to adapt and we have adapted with reality, and I think we managed to overcome this". 

Responding to a journalist's query as to whether "Lebanon has gone to Iran's bosom and lost its ties with Gulf and Arab countries", Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil responded "I don't think it's in Lebanon's interests to be in an axis or with a state against a state. Lebanon goes after its interest with each stance it takes". 

UN forces investigating what the IDF described as "Hizbollah attack tunnels" updated their findings to note that they had "independently confirmed the existence of five tunnels close to the Blue Line in northern Israel. Of these, three tunnels have been found to be crossing the Blue Line". 

UN forces investigating what the IDF described as "Hizbollah attack tunnels" updated their findings to note that they had "independently confirmed the existence of five tunnels close to the Blue Line in northern Israel. Of these, three tunnels have been found to be crossing the Blue Line". 

During a visit to the south of the country, Lebanon's defence minister remarked that "if Israel bombards our airport, we will bombard its airport; if it strikes our oil facilities, we will strike its oil facilities". 

The Treasury Department announced that it had "further targeted the global business operations of Hizbollah by designating two individuals and three entities acting as conduits for sanctions evasion schemes". 

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah maintained that "U.S. efforts to increase economic pressure on Iran, especially its pledge to drive the country's oil exports to zero, will have negative repercussions and will affect the entire world, including the U.S. itself". Nasrallah also predicted that "there is very little likelihood that Israel would launch another war on Lebanon", on the basis that "the Israeli army is not prepared for any aggression against the country". 

The U.S. announced that it was "offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of the global terrorist organisation Lebanese Hizbollah". National Security Advisor John Bolton characterised the move as "another example of how the U.S. is continuing to expand the scope and scale of our maximum pressure campaign against Iran and its proxies". 

A senior Israeli military official assessed that "Hizbollah still has plans to invade the Galilee", and predicted that "we will thwart those plans". He also indicated that "in the area referred to as 'southern Syria', our operations have been very effective, and they have actually pushed the Iranians out... in those places, Iran's presence is so weak it's almost nonexistent".  

A senior IRGC official indicated that "today, in the area of [Iran's] regional achievements, there are tens of thousands of Lebanese Hizbollah forces around the borders of the Zionist regime [i.e Israel], and this is something the Americans cannot stomach". 

The Treasury Department "identified Lebanese national Kassem Chams and designated the Chams Money Laundering Organisation as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNT)... [and] an affiliated network of Hizbollah". National Security Advisor John Bolton, describing the designation targets as a "narco-terrorism money laundering network working for Hizbollah", added that "we will continue to impose maximum economic pressure on Iran, its terrorist arm, the IRGC and its proxies and criminal affiliates around the world". 

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah posited that the U.S. move to blacklist the IRGC "shows that U.S. audacity and folly went beyond limits". He added that "until now we have only settled with condemnation, denouncement, patience and managing the situation calmly in the face of sanctions and terror lists, but our patience does not mean that we, the axis of resistance, do not have cards of strength". Nasrallah also opined that discussion of U.S. sanctions against Lebanese allies of Hizbollah "so far... remains an intimidation campaign". 

A U.S. official opined that Nabih Berri, Lebanon's parliamentary speaker, "continues to be Iran's man in Lebanon. He is Hizbollah's main line of political support. U.S. economic targeting and sanctions will increase until Berri goes - or changes, which is unlikely". "As long as Berri remains in power", the official predicted, "the country will suffer". 

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, maintained that "in Lebanon, the Iranian regime’s obsession with using Hizbollah to provoke conflict with Lebanon’s neighbours threatens the safety of the Lebanese people. IRGC backing enables Hizbollah to use murder, terrorism, and corruption to intimidate other Lebanese parties and communities".

Unnamed U.S. sources revealed that during Secretary Pompeo's visit to Israel in March, Prime Minister Netanyahu shared intelligence indicating "that Hizbollah and Iran have set up a new covert factory for precision missiles on Lebanese soil". Pomepo had, during his subsequent stay in Beirut, conveyed these findings to the Lebanese government.

Reflecting on his recent trip to Beirut, Secretary Pompeo stated that he had "called out Hizbollah, an organisation that now has infiltrated Lebanon in a way that is horrible for the Lebanese people... it wasn't popular". 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah responded to Secretary of State Pompeo's criticisms of Hizbollah during his visit to Beirut. "We feel happy when an official from the world's most powerful state is concerned over our role," Nasrallah asserted. "We feel happy when the administration of the Great Satan [i.e the U.S.] is annoyed by Hizbollah... [Pompeo's statements] made us more faithful that we are in the right position". 

In remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Secretary Pompeo stated that "the Trump administration and my team at the State Department is confronting the world's number one proponent of anti-Semitism, the Islamic Republic of Iran... we're enacted the strongest pressure campaign in history against Iran and its proxies, and they are feeling the pain". "Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah's terrorist-in-chief, recently begged for contributions from the very people in Lebanon that he and his Iranian masters have subjugated and terrorised", Pompeo added. "Hassan Nasrallah passing the tin cup around is good news". 

Following Secretary Pompeo's visit to Beirut, in the course of which he had warned Lebanon against "allow[ing] the dark ambitions of Iran and Hizbollah to dictate your future", Iran's diplomatic spokesperson riposted that "the provocative, meddlesome and undiplomatic remarks made by the U.S. Secretary of State... once again revealed Washington's patronising attitude and behaviour towards other free and independent countries". He went on to argue that "now that is has failed to realise its ominous goals in the sensitive region of the Middle East, the U.S. is resorting to the worn-out, hackneyed and outdated trick of intimidating and threatening others in a bit to impose its hegemonic policies and behaviour". "Iran stresses at it will tap into all its capacities in order to promote internal solidarity and unity in Lebanon", the spokesperson added, "and to reinforce bilateral ties with the country in issues that are in the interest of the Iranian and Lebanese people". 

In Beirut, Secretary Pompeo posited that Lebanon's democracy was "at risk because the Ayatollah Khamenei and [Qods force commander] Qasem Soleimani and the Islamic Republic of Iran want to take over this country; they want to control this state; they want access to the Mediterranean; they want power influence here". In his conversations with Lebanese officials, Pompeo argued, "all understand the importance of keeping the political power out of the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran". He added that "our efforts [to counter Iran] will be everywhere. Our efforts will be intense. Our objective is noble: to help the Iranian people successfully retake the leadership and the governance of their own nation in the way I know they so richly deserve". 

On a visit to Beirut, Secretary Pompeo met with several senior Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hariri and Foreign Minister Bassil. "We have to confront the facts. Hizbollah stands in the way of the Lebanese people's dreams", Pompeo declared in a joint appearance with Bassil, adding that "Hizbollah and its illegitimate militia put the entire country of Lebanon on the front lines of Iran's misguided proxy campaigns". "The U.S. will continue to bring unprecedented pressure to bear on Iran until it ceases all malign behaviour, including that which is carried out by Hizbollah", Pompeo added. Citing an estimate of $700 million in annual Iranian support for Hizbollah, he asserted that "our pressure on Iran is simple. It's aimed at cutting off all the funding for terrorists, and it's working... we believe that our work is already constraining Hizbollah's activities". "Lebanon and the Lebanese people face a choice", Pompeo suggested. "Bravely move forward as an independent and proud nation, or allow the dark ambitions of Iran and Hizbollah to dictate your future". 

During a joint appearance with Secretary of State Pompeo, Lebanese Foreign Minister Bassil remarked that "from our side, we reiterated that Hizbollah is a political party, that it is not terrorist... we want to work together in order to solve all these problems, including the issue of Hizbollah and the perception of Hizbollah and how to deal with Hizbollah". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, noted that "we know historically that Iran has given Hizbollah an average of $700 million a year... we have seen evidence of the impact [of U.S. sanctions] when the leader of Hizbollah makes a public appeal for charity. It speaks for itself. This is the kind of impact that we want". He added that "we know that we have denied the [Iranian] regime even in the short amount of time [since sanctions came into effect] many billions of dollars in revenue", and underscored that the U.S. held "talks with any government where we see sanctions violations or even potential sanctions violations". Hook went on to underscore that "we are... committed to ensuring that troops under Iranian command are out of Syria", and suggested Iran had a "vastly-under reported role in Yemen" despite having "no legitimate interest" in the country. "Giving [Iran] a foothold in Yemen", Hook argued, "allows them to threaten two straits of international commerce". 

Ahead of a visit to Beirut, Secretary Pompeo described Hizbollah as "a terrorist organisation - period, full stop". "This is an organisation underwritten by the Islamic Republic of Iran with the intention of the destruction of Israel and, if you listen to them closely, the destruction of Western democracy, including the U.S. as well", he continued. "We're going to be very clear about how America sees Hizbollah and our expectations about how Lebanon's success depends on - the Lebanese people will demand that a terrorist organisation not be in control of their government and not drive policies and create risk for their country as well". 

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah declared that "the sanctions and terror lists are a form of warfare against the resistance and we must deal with them as such. I announce that... we are in need of the support of our popular base". 

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel opined that "Hizbollah's manipulation of the Lebanese political process thwarts needed reforms while exacerbating sectarian tensions inside Lebanon". He added that "Hizbollah has... engaged in provocative actions with Israel, risking unpredictable escalatory actions that threaten Israeli security and could undermine Lebanon's stability. Through its Hizbollah proxy, Iran continues to meddle in Lebanon's internal affairs". 

The U.S. welcomed the UK's move to "proscribe Hizbollah in its entirety". "This Iran-sponsored terrorist group has American blood on its hands and continues to plot and carry out attacks in the Middle East, Europe and around the world", said Secretary Pompeo. "International unity to confront Iran's regime continues to grow". 

U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard revealed that she had shared with Prime Minister Hariri "U.S. concern over the growing role in the Cabinet of an organisation that continues to maintain a militia that is not under the control of the government, that continues to make its own national security decisions - decisions that endanger the rest of the country. And that continues to violate the government's disassociation policy by participating in armed conflict in at least three other countries". "This state of affairs does not contribute to stability", Richard suggested. "In fact, it is fundamentally destabilising". Lebanese President Michel Aoun argued the following day that "it is not true that Hizbollah's influence over Lebanon is increasing". 

Secretary Pompeo, in Warsaw for the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, described the proceedings as "absolutely historic... the first time in a quarter of a century that you had the prime minister of Israel in the same room talking about threats in the Middle East with senior Arab leaders from all across the Middle East". "This gathering is certainly about Middle East peace and stability," he explained. "You can't talk about that without talking about the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, whether it's Hizbollah, Hamas, the Houthis - I call them the three H's - whether it's their work against the Iraqi government... whether it's what they're doing in Syria today". Pompeo also remarked that "we don't expect the Iranian people to support the U.S. We expect them to take care of their own country... we want the Iranian people to have the opportunity to live in a prosperous, peaceful society and one that is controlled by their desires, their wishes. And if we can get that, I am very confident that these behaviours that we see in Iran will change dramatically". On Yemen, Pompeo stressed that "we have two problems - three problems really. The first problem is al-Qaeda... the second problem is Iran continuing to fund the Huthis... it provides missiles to the Huthis that they launch into airports in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates". 

The U.S. confirmed delivery of a $16 million shipment of laser-guided rockets for the Lebanese military, noting that the "delivery demonstrates the U.S. government's firm and steady commitment to support to the Lebanese army in their capacity as the sole, legitimate defender of Lebanon". 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, and underscored Tehran's determination to "stand firm by the Lebanese state, the Lebanese people and the Lebanese resistance". 

During a visit to Beirut, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif declared, with reference to military aid, that "we always have this type of readiness and we announced on other occasions that this tendency exists in Iran but we are waiting for this desire to exist on the Lebanese side". "If the Lebanese government requests, Iran is ready to cooperate with this country in all fields", he added. 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared that "I'm willing to bring the Lebanese army air defence systems from Iran to confront Israel", and also asserted that "if America launches a war on Iran, it will not be alone in the confrontation at all". "The resistance axis is stronger than ever", Nasrallah continued, "and the U.S. will further withdraw from the region and Israel is heading towards more fear and panic". 

Secretary Pompeo, responding to a question about the danger of Venezuela "turning into a no man's land", asserted that "people don't recognise that Hizbollah has active cells. The Iranian are impacting the people of Venezuela and throughout South America". "We have an obligation", he added, "to take down that risk for America". 

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel posited that Hizbollah is "undermining the role of the legitimate Lebanese government and armed forces, adding that "Hizbollah has also engaged in provocative actions with Israel, risking unpredictable escalatory actions that threaten Israeli security and could undermine Lebanon's stability". Through its Hizbollah proxy", Votel continued, "Iran continues to meddle in Lebanon's internal affairs". 

Prime Minister told his cabinet that "in Iran today they are marking 40 years since the Islamic revolution and are trying to boast about the new missile. Iran openly declares its intention to destroy the State of Israel. I have a clear message to the tyrants of Tehran: we know what you are doing and where you are doing it. We will continue to take action against Iran with all the tools at our disposal in order to ensure the security and future of Israel". Netanyahu also met with a delegation of UN ambassadors, and asserted to them that "a great shift has taken place in the Middle East. That shift is the rise of the aggressive theocracy of Iran that seeks to conquer the Middle East, eliminate Israel and dominate many other parts of the world". "Iran has proxies", Netanyahu continued. "One of them is Hizbollah... they actually control the government of Lebanon. It means that Iran controls the government of Lebanon. It's important to send this very powerful message just as we stop the terror tunnels coming into Israel, we will stop all the aggression; from Lebanon or from Syria or from Iran itself". 

Lebanon's new national unity government was welcomed by Tehran and Washington, with the U.S. also noting concern "that Hizbollah, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, will continue to occupy ministerial positions and was allowed to name the Minister of Public Health. We call on the new government to ensure the resources and services of these ministries do not provide support to Hizbollah". On a related note, a senior U.S. treasury official warned that "if we see that Hizbollah exploits, and they will exploit whatever ministry they are given, to funnel money and other terrorist agendas then we have significant problems with that".  He added that "our pressure on the Persians is having clear and obvious effect. We applied sanctions on Iran because they refuse to stop their missile launchers and funneling of their activities abroad. As a result of the domestic corruption in Tehran there is less and less money to go around. And as a result of that, we are actually seeing that Hizbollah... is not getting the paychecks they once enjoyed from the Iranians". 

The U.S. intelligence community assessed that "Hizbollah most likely will continue to develop its terrorist capabilities, which the group views as a valuable tool and one it can maintain with plausible deniability". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu, responding to 26 January remarks by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, posited that Nasrallah "is very embarrassed for three reasons: one, because of the great success of our operation 'Northern Shield'... second, Nasrallah is in a predicament due to financial distress. The policy that we pushed of re-imposing sanctions on Iran, which was clearly and sharply adopted by President Trump, is striking hard at the sources of financing for Iran and its proxies, especially Hizbollah". The third factor, Netanyahu opined, was "our determination".

In an interview, Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah remarked that "we will deal with any Israeli operation to hit targets in Lebanon as an attempt to change rules of engagement. And we will deal with any large-scale operation as a declaration of war against Lebanon". He also assessed that "no one knows when Syria would change its attitude towards the Israeli assaults, therefore they should be careful not to go too far with them, because the priority in the past was ending the internal Syria battle, but not the situation is different, Syria could respond, and Israel should never underestimate the response of the resistance axis, on top of which is Damascus". 

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned that "if we are threatened from Lebanon, we will not stand by. Hizbollah is creating facilities to produce and convert precision-guided missiles in the heart of Beirut under civilian cover and with Iranian support... this threatens Israeli security and could force us to respond, dragging the region into escalation that could badly harm Lebanon". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that "there is one central threat: Iran and its terror proxies. We have acted carefully and responsibly to thwart efforts by those who wish to annihilate us to become stronger. We did this by blocking the nuclear deal with Iran and reimposing sanctions. We had to penetrate through Iranian lies, as Iran lies all the time. They lied about the nuclear deal, and we exposed that by uncovering the secret nuclear archive from Tehran. They are lying now, saying that they are launching an ostensibly innocent satellite into space, but in fact, they are aiming to accomplish the first stage for an inter-continental missile in defiance of all international agreements. We fully support the U.S.' unwavering objection to this aggressive act". "Another step we have taken to protect Israel", he continued, "is disrupting Hizbollah's attempts to acquire precision-guided munitions, destroying Hizbollah's tunnels in the north and those of Hamas in the south, and above all, preventing the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria". Citing an Iranian official's recent remarks about Iran's advisory role in Syria, Netanyahu said: "I advise them to get out of there fast, because we will continue with our resolute policy, as we have promised and as we are doing, fearlessly and relentlessly".  

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that "we worked with impressive success to block Iran's military entrenchment in Syria. In this framework, the IDF attacked Iranian and Hizbollah targets hundreds of times. We worked together against the manufacture of precision weapons in Lebanon. We worked to dismantle Hizbollah's tunnels weapon in Lebanon, in Operation 'Northern Shield'". "Just in the last 36 hours", Netanyahu revealed, "the air force attacked Iranian warehouses with Iranian weapons at the international airport in Damascus. The accumulation of recent attacks proves that we are determined more than ever to take action against Iran in Syria, just as we promised". 

Confirming Israeli strikes against what he described as "an Iranian weapons warehouse at the international airport in Damascus", Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that "if necessary, we will step up these attacks". He also indicated that operation "Northern Shield", along the Lebanon border, had come "to a successful close". 

Secretary Pompeo warned that "in Lebanon, Hizbollah remains a major presence, but we won't accept this status quo. Our aggressive sanctions campaign against Iran is also directed at the terror group and its leaders". Pompeo added that "the U.S. will work to reduce the threat of Hizbollah's missile arsenal, which is aimed at Israel... many of these rockets are equipped with advanced guidance systems, courtesy of Iran, and that's unacceptable. Iran may think it owns Lebanon. Iran is wrong". 

Prime Minister asserted that "we are acting decisively to thwart all those who seek to endanger us. This is now happening in Syria, against Iran's attempts to entrench itself militarily... it is also happening on the Lebanese border". Netanyahu went on to argue that "the greatest threat from Iran is that of nuclear weapons in the hands of a power which declares that we need to be wiped off the face of the earth... I insisted on the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran and President Trump indeed made the brave decision to re-impose them. President Trump is acting against Iran in the economic sphere and here in Israel we are acting against Iran in the military sphere". 

The State Department issued a statement underscoring that "the U.S. fully support Israel's right to defend itself against Iranian regional actions that endanger Israeli national security and the safety of the Israeli people. Iranian support of and supply to terrorist groups in Syria and across the region that have the clear intent and capability to strike Israel are unacceptable". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that "we are not prepared to accept the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria which is directed against us. We will act against it vigorously and continuously... we will not be deterred from doing what is necessary". He added that "President Trump's decision to withdraw the American soldiers from Syria will not change our policy. We are standing steadfast on our red lines in Syria and everywhere else". Netanyahu also indicated that "we are eliminating Hizbollah's terrorist tunnels one after the other", referring to operation "Northern Shield" along the Lebanon border. 

U.S. defence officials indicated that overnight Israeli strikes in Syria targeted Iranian arms depots as well as members of Hizbollah, while a Russian military spokesperson argued that "provocative acts by the Israeli Air Force endangered two passenger jets". 

Prime Minister told his cabinet that Washington's "decision to withdraw 2000 U.S. troops from Syria will not change our consistent policy: we will continue to act against Iran's attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria, and to the extent necessary, we will even expand our actions there". He went on to say that "cooperation with the U.S. will continue in full", and assessed that Israel's ongoing Operation "Northern Shield" along the Lebanon border was "meeting its timetable and its objectives". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that Israel was "continuing our efforts to neutralise the terror tunnels [along the Lebanon border]", and added that "we will continue to take very strong action against Iran's attempts to entrench itself in Syria. In neither of these sectors do we intend to lessen our efforts; we will intensify them, and I know that we do so with the full support and backing of the U.S."

Prime Minister Netanyahu opined that Hizbollah's digging of tunnels along the Israel-Lebanon border was "part of a war plan", adding that "Hizbollah is doing all this because Iran supports it in every way, including with money. Money that it got from the flawed Iranian [nuclear] deal. And this is part of the Iranian web of aggression". He went on to urge that the UN Security Council "condemn Hizbollah's wanton acts of aggression; to designate Hizbollah, in its entirety, as a terrorist organisation; to press for heightened sanctions against Hizbollah; to demand that Lebanon stop allowing its territory to be used as an act of aggression and its citizens to be used as pawns; to support Israel's right to defend itself against Iranian-inspired and Iranian-conducted aggression". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that "we are committed to fighting the [Iran] nuclear agreement also with operations and actions and diplomatic moves... we are striking Iran and Syria and of course the U.S. is striking Iran economically. We are working to shrink this body which is responsible for almost all of the security problems that the State of Israel has". He added that "we are fighting the arms of Iran and Hizbollah... they [i.e. Hizbollah] planned to have thousands of precision missiles and they have a few dozen at best". 

The Israeli military published video footage of a Hizbollah tunnel, noting that it was "funded by Iran and cost millions of dollars". "Think about how that money could've been invested in the Iranian or Lebanese people", the IDF asserted, "but Lebanon allowed Hizbollah to invest it in killing Israelis". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that "the IDF uncovered a fourth Hizbollah tunnel", and went on to say that the "operation [Northern Shield] to deny Hizbollah the tunnel weapon is proceeding according to plan and will continue until all of its goals are achieved". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that "our red line is survival. We do what is necessary to protect the State of Israel against the Iranian regime that openly calls for the annihilation of the Jewish state". Netanyahu added that "I'm not ruling out doing anything that we need to do to defend ourselves. For the moment Israel's military is the only military... that is directly engaging the Iranian forces. We're doing that in Syria and pulling them back". He went on to say that "we're going to stop things... when they're small. So we meet Iran head-on in Syria and if we need to we'll do whatever else we need to do to protect ourselves". 

An Israeli military delegation met with Russian counterparts in Moscow to update them on operation "Northern Shield" and consult about "the improvement of the two militaries' deconfliction system in the norther region". The IDF indicated that it would "continue operating to prevent Iranian entrenchment and the arming of Hizbollah in Syria". 

Discussing operation "Northern Shield", Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that "the most important thing is the readiness... for a much stronger response if Hizbollah makes a major mistake and decides to attack us or oppose our action. Hizbollah will be dealt unimaginable blows". He went to assess that "Hizbollah understands that we are well prepared for any attempt on its part to respond and it realises that we have a great force here opposite it. I tell you now that it does not fully grasp it". 

In an update on operation "Northern Shield", the Israeli military revealed that it had uncovered a third Hizbollah tunnel and "placed explosives" in it. The IDF went on to warn "Hizbollah terrorists: enter at your own risk". 

Prime Minister told Israel's diplomatic corps that "the exposure of Hizbollah's terrorist tunnels on the northern border is part of an effort, which is not just military, to block the tunnels threat. But it is also a public diplomacy, economic and diplomatic effort to impose increased sanctions Hizbollah, to designate all subdivisions of Hizbollah as one organisation". "It is also necessary", Netanyahu continued, "to increase sanctions on Iran, which is behind this organisation and is also behind Hamas' similar attempts". 

Asked about Israel's operation "Northern Shield", Secretary Pompeo indicated that "the U.S. fully supports Israel's right and we do our best to support their capability to defend themselves from Iranian aggression". "These tunnels", Pompeo continued, "are Iranian-connected Lebanese Hizbollah efforts to violate the most basic premise of sovereignty". 

A senior Hizbollah official claimed that "the Israeli domestic front, even Tel Aviv, and every point in the Zionist entity [i.e. Israel] can be targeted by Hizbollah's missiles". He went on to argue that "the rules of engagement that Hizbollah has created in Lebanon and the rules of deterrence have made the idea of a war initiated by Israel against Lebanon very difficult". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that "we will continue the operation [Northern Shield] until... the tunnel threat in the north is neutralised. At the same time we are working in the intelligence sphere in order to denounce Hizbollah and Iran and to increase sanctions against both of them". Netanyahu also detailed his earlier conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that "I told President Putin that we are continuing our policy: we will not allow Iran to establish a military presence in Syria. We will continue to take action against the precision weapons in Lebanon, and we will complete the operation to foil the tunnels threat". 

Briefing foreign diplomats on operation "Northern Shield", Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that "what we're facing is one big enemy. That enemy is called Iran. Iran is trying to act on two levels. One, to develop a nuclear arsenal... the second thing that Iran is doing is developing conventional weapons against us and have declared war to annihilate Israel". Hizbollah, Netanyahu asserted, "planned to have by now thousands of precision-guided missiles, in fact... [they have] a few dozen". He went on to call for "heightened sanctions on Hizbollah", and added that "Lebanon should be put on the list because they're saying nothing about this". 

UNIFIL chaired a tripartite session with Israeli and Lebanese military officials, and called on the parties to "avoid misunderstandings and ensure that security and stability along the Blue Line is maintained and reinforced". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that "every year, Iran's regime steals $700 million from its people and sends it to Hizbollah to fund its terrorist activities - like the newly-discovered tunnels - against Israel". "We're determined to exert maximum pressure to reverse all of the Iranian regime's threats", Hook added. 

The Israeli military launched operation "Northern Shield", described by Prime Minister Netanyahu as "a campaign to expose and neutralise a network of terror tunnels on our northern border with Lebanon". "These cross-border terror tunnels were built by Hizbollah", asserted Netanyahu, "with direct support and funding from Iran". Warning that "Israel holds the Lebanese government accountable for all terror activity emanating from Lebanon against Israel", he added that "we will continue to do all that is necessary to defend ourselves against Iran's efforts to use Lebanon, Syria and Gaza as forward terror bases to attack Israel". In a statement, the Lebanese military maintained that "the situation is calm... and is being followed up on", while a Hizbollah official insisted that "routine is maintained in southern Lebanon's villages". 

An unnamed "senior Hizbollah source" maintained that "Iranian and Hizbollah positions in Kiswah... were not exposed to any bombardment" the week before. 

Hizbollah published a video citing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warning that "in case of any assault on Lebanon, in case of any air raid on Lebanon, in case of any bombardment at Lebanon, we will inevitably retaliate". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, indicated that "in Lebanon, we have evidence that Iran is helping Hizbollah build missile production facilities". 

The U.S. announced "rewards of up to $5 million... for information leading to the identification or location" of a Hamas official purportedly "working with [IRGC Quds force commander] Qasem Soleimani" in Lebanon. Similar rewards were offered for two Hizbollah officials, one of whom was described as Hizbollah's "chief military liaison to Iran and to Palestinian terrorist organisations".  

The State Department designated the son of Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Jawad Nasrallah, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and additionally designated Al-Mujahidin Brigades, which it described as a "military organisation that has operated in the Palestinian Territories since 2005... [and] has ties to Hizbollah". "Today's action maintain the momentum of the Administration's snapback sanctions on Iran", the department noted. 

The Treasury Department designated "four Hizbollah-affiliated individuals who lead and coordinate the group's operational, intelligence and financial activities in Iraq". "Treasury's concerted actions aim to deny Hizbollah's clandestine attempts to exploit Iraq to launder funds, procure weapons, train fighters and collect intelligence as a proxy for Iran", asserted a senior Treasury official. 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, declared that the "source of our strength are our missiles because the Lebanese army is not allowed to acquire advanced missiles". He went on to warn that "we will respond to any Israeli strike on Lebanon and will not accept any aggression by the enemy on our land". 

Israel reportedly passed on a message to Lebanon warning that its "government must be careful when it comes to Hizbollah's rocket factories. If the issue isn't dealt with through diplomatic means by the Lebanese government, Israel will act on its own". 

President Trump signed into law sanctions legislation against Hizbollah intended to "further isolate Hizbollah from the international financial system and reduce its funding". In accompanying remarks, President Trump pledged that the U.S. would "target, disrupt and dismantle [Hizbollah's] operational and financing networks - of which they had plenty; they don't have plenty now". He also asserted that "we are doing a big number on Iran today", adding that the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran on 5 November "will be followed up with even more sanctions to address the full range of Iran's malign conduct".  

The Justice Department designated Hizbollah as a "top transnational organized crime threat" 

The Justice Department designated Hizbollah as a "top transnational organized crime threat" 

The Treasury Department designated one individual and seven Lebanese companies for supporting a "Hizbollah insider and financier" already designated by the U.S. 

A minister in the Hadi government called on Lebanon "to intervene to stop the subversive and inciting activities of the Iranian Huthi militias in Lebanon under the cover of political, security and financial support from Hizbollah". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Iran that "we will act against you in Lebanon", where he claimed "Iran is directing Hizbollah to build secret sites to convert inaccurate projectiles into precision guided missiles". Accusing Hizbollah of "deliberately using the innocent people of Beirut as human shields", he declared to Hizbollah that "Israel knows... and Israel will not let you get away with it". 

Responding to Prime Minister Netanyahu's UN General Assembly speech, Lebanon's foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, asserted that "here is Israel, again coming up with excuses to justify assault and preparing to violate the sovereignty of states..."

Prime Minister Netanyahu advised Hizbollah's leader to "think not twice but twenty times because if he confronts us he will receive a crushing blow that he cannot even imagine". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, stated that Israel has "been working hard to cut off the road and prevent us from possessing accurate missiles. I say whatever you do to cut off the road on us, it's all over, we are now in possession of accurate missiles that if used in any future war you can't expect what your fate will be". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, revealed that "we have evidence is helping Hizbollah build missile production facilities". 

Commenting on the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. noted that "the Special Tribunal for Lebanon renewed its accusations against four Hizbollah members, while they remain free; they continue to hold Lebanon hostage to Iranian terrorism". He added that "the international community must come together and hold those who committed this crime against Lebanon's sovereignty accountable by identifying the conspirators and punishing them. Rogue regimes must pay a price for using political assassinations to spread chaos in our region". 

Iran dismissed a Fox News article alleging possible Iranian weapons transfers into Lebanon, with the foreign ministry's spokesperson asserting that "the publication of such false news has become a common occurrence... indicating the escalation of the psychological warfare waged by anti-Iran and hostile circles". 

A senior Israeli military official declared that "Hizbollah speaks from the bunker. We're aware of their financial situation and abilities. If they knew what we knew about them, they wouldn't speak so confidently". "I hope there'll be no war", he added, "but if there is, it'll be the last northern war". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, declared that "the Israeli army has developed much of its capabilities and acquired state-of-the-art missile and military hardware, it cannot yet evade defeat". He went on to warn of a "campaign being launched via social media to distort Hizbollah's image", and cautioned that "claims... Hizbollah is now in control of Lebanon's decisions are aimed at pinning the blame on the party for all the current situations". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, met with senior Huthi officials in Lebanon.

The Saudi ambassador to Washington, Khalid bin Salman, took to Twitter to assert that "among the much ignored realities in Yemen is not only the direct assistance the Huthi militia receives from the Iranian regime, but the existence of Hizbollah commanders on the ground". Subsequent tweets showed an alleged Hizbollah member "advising [the Huthis] on asymmetric warfare" and "deception tactics", which the ambassador went to cite as "evidence (among others) [that] confirms the ideological and military connection the Huthis and Hizbollah have to the Iranian regime". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, opined that the "U.S. and Israel are too weak to launch wars like those launched in the region before... those who want war we will give them war, but a war that we are ready for and will triumph in". He went on to say that "sanctions aim at creating public anger against the Islamic establishment in Iran in a bid to weaken the axis of resistance", adding that Iran "is more powerful than ever before". 

Saudi Arabia's UN envoy asserted that his government "will confront the militias of the Lebanese Hizbollah party everywhere, and expose its practices to the international community".

In a letter to his Lebanese counterpart, Yemen's foreign minister condemned remarks from Hizbollah's leadership supporting the Huthis. 

The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, declared that "just in Europe, Iran-sponsored assassinations, bombings and other terrorist attacks have scarred countless lives"; accompanying graphics illustrated purported terrorist plots and attacks carried out by Iran and Hizbollah. 

Yemeni forces claimed to have apprehended seven Hizbollah members in Yemen's northern governorate of Saada. 

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to have killed 8 Hizbollah fighters in clashes against Huthi forces in Saada.

A senior Iranian defence official posited that "Lebanese Hizbollah, armed with 80,000 rockets, has turned into a permanent threat for the Zionists [Israel]". 

Quds Force Commander Qasem Suleimani claimed that "Saudi Arabia spent $200 million in a short period of time on the Lebanese elections", and argued that Hizbollah's performance in the polls, which he tallied at 74 seats, meant it "has transformed into a Lebanese Resistance state from a Lebanese Resistance political party". Saad Hariri called Suleimani's comments "regrettable". 

The speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, asserted that Iranian and Hizbollah forces will remain in Syria "until Syria is liberated and regains its territorial integrity". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, argued that "the U.S. and Saudi sanctions against me and my brothers do not have material effect, seeing as we don't have money in banks, but the aim is to scare people of meeting with us". 

Saad Hariri was appointed prime minister.

The UN Secretary-General "call[ed] upon countries in the region that maintain close ties with Hizbollah to encourage the transformation of the armed group into a solely civilian political party, and its disarmament". 

A Hizbollah official brushed off U.S. sanctions designations targeting the group as having "no value of political effect". 

The U.S., Saudi Arabia and five other members of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against Hizbollah's leadership. 

President Rouhani pledged that "Iran will continue supporting the Lebanese government and nation to resist against terrorist groups and aggression by the Zionist Regime". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, claimed that 55 missile were fired at Israel on 10 May, adding that "the message was delivered... the era when you hit Syria without response is over". 

Hassan Nasrallah hailed the results of Lebanese parliamentary elections as "a political and moral victory for the choice of resistance which will protect the country's sovereignty". 

With parliamentary elections approaching, Hassan Nasrallah declared that "the resistance needs political protection because of the international and regional conspiracy. The Saudi crown prince is ready to pay billions of dollars to incite the U.S. and 'Israel' to wage war on the region". 

Responding to the recent U.S.-led strikes in Syria, the leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, argued that the U.S. "knows well that going towards a wide confrontation against the regime and the army and the allied forces in Syria could not end... any such confrontation would inflame the entire region".   

A senior Hizbollah official downplayed the possibility that potential U.S. retaliation following the suspected chemical attack in Douma on 7 April might escalate "into a direct American-Russian clash or a wide state of war". He added that "if the assault on Syria has a very limited scope, then it's expected that reactions from the concerned sides in Syria will be tied to the Syrian arena". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, blamed Israel for the 9 April airstrikes against the T4 airbase in Syria and called it "a historic mistake... which brings [Israel] into direct confrontation with Iran". 

The president of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, maintained that his country "will not accept any Israeli exploitation of our airspace". 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, alleged that Saudi Arabia had offered substantial aid for Syria's reconstruction if the Syrian government broke ties with Iran and Hizbollah. 

A U.S. military official indicated that in the event of Iranian missile strikes against Israel, "we will have fighting forces moving within 72 hours". 

The commander of the Lebanese armed forces, Joseph Aoun, warned that "the army will not spare any method available to confront any Israeli aggression, whatever the costs". 

The Treasury Department announced sanctions designations against six persons and seven entities linked to Hizbollah. 

 In an article published on Arabic-language media, an Israeli military official dubbed Lebanon "one large missile factory". IDF spokesman Ronen Manelis went on to write that "Iran has de-facto opened a new branch, the 'Lebanon branch'", adding that "our security red lines are clearly demarcated. We have proven that is the case every week. The choice is yours, people of Lebanon".

Hariri withdrew his resignation. In remarks to the cabinet, he declared that “it cannot be that we accept that any Lebanese side interferes in the affairs of Arab states”. 

Hariri stated that “Lebanon cannot resolve a question like Hizbollah which is in Syria, Iraq, everywhere because of Iran. It is a regional political solution that needs to be done … I think in the interest of Lebanon, Hizbollah is carrying out a positive dialogue. They know we have to remain neutral in the region”.

Hariri declared that “we will not accept Hizbollah’s positions that affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries”.

Hariri suspended his resignation after talks with Lebanon’s president.

After briefs stays in France and Egypt, Hariri headed back to Beirut.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun accused Saudi Arabia of holding Hariri against his will.

In a televised live interview on his own Future TV, Hariri insisted that he was staying in Saudi Arabia at his own will and was free to go.

Hariri held discussions with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and several top Saudi officials in Riyadh.

Hariri announced in Saudi Arabia that he was resigning from his post.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, held meetings in Beirut with Hariri, Aoun and the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 (H.R. 3329) and the Sanctioning Hizballah’s Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act (H.R. 3342). It also passed H.R. 359, “urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirely as a terrorist organization and increase pressure on it and its members”.