Iran asserts that Hezbollah is equipped to defend both itself and Lebanon, alerting Israel that it would face significant consequences in a full-scale conflict with the Lebanese militant group.

The statement from Iran on Friday was made amid growing concerns of a major Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

“Any reckless decision by the Israeli occupying regime to rescue itself could lead to a new regional war, resulting in the devastation of Lebanon's infrastructure and that of the 1948 occupied territories,” Iran's mission to the United Nations stated on social media.

“Undoubtedly, this war will have one definitive loser, which is the Zionist regime. The Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, possesses the strength to protect themselves and Lebanon – perhaps the time for the demise of this illegitimate regime has arrived.”

On Friday, Israel also issued a cautionary statement towards Iran-aligned Hezbollah, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz noting, “soon we will make the necessary decisions” regarding the confrontation with the Lebanese group.

“The free world must unconditionally support Israel in its battle against the axis of evil led by Iran and extremist Islam. This is your war too,” Katz declared.

Israel will not allow the Hezbollah terror group to continue its attacks on our land and citizens, and soon we will make the critical decisions. The free world must stand with Israel without reservations in its fight against the evil axis led by Iran and radical Islam. Our…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 21, 2024

This week, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that if the Israeli military initiates a war in Lebanon, his group would utilize rockets and drones to strike targets across Israel. He stated that Hezbollah would conduct a war with “no limitations and no boundaries.”

Moreover, Nasrallah threatened Cyprus, an EU member country west of Lebanon and Israel. He claimed that Israel performs military drills in Cyprus in areas resembling southern Lebanon’s terrain.

Nasrallah added that Israel plans to use Cypriot airports and bases for military operations if their infrastructure is attacked during a severe conflict.

“Allowing Israeli forces to target Lebanon using Cypriot airports and bases means that the Cypriot government becomes part of the conflict, and the resistance will treat them as such,” he said, without further explanation.

Cyprus dismissed Nasrallah's threat as baseless, affirming its strong relations with Lebanon.

Nevertheless, Hezbollah's statement raised concerns about a potentially larger regional war extending beyond Lebanon's borders, potentially involving Iran-allied groups, Iran itself, and the United States.

Hezbollah began attacking military installations in northern Israel on October 7, supporting Palestinian groups following the onset of the Gaza war. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on southern Lebanese villages and Hezbollah positions.

Despite almost daily confrontations displacing tens of thousands in Lebanon and Israel, the clashes remained largely localized around the border areas.

However, violence surged in recent weeks, especially after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon last week.

On Friday, Hezbollah claimed several military operations against Israel, including a drone attack targeting Israeli forces at a coastal base near the border.

The US has advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis while expressing concern over Hezbollah's strikes. “We have clearly communicated our desire to avoid an escalation of this conflict,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told the press on Thursday.

Hezbollah stated it would continue its military operations against the Israeli army until Israel ceases its assault on Gaza, which has resulted in over 37,000 Palestinian deaths.