The commander of Iran's Quds Force warned Thursday that if Israel does not withdraw from southern Lebanon voluntarily, it will be forced out defeated. Israeli analyst Sharia Harosh assessed that the statement reflects Iranian pressure amid direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Washington that Tehran fears will succeed.
The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, the elite unit responsible for overseas operations, said Thursday that if Israel does not withdraw from southern Lebanon of its own accord, it will be forced out defeated. The threat, reported by Israeli media at 15:56 Jerusalem time, follows a series of escalating statements on the issue.
As The Zioneer reported at 14:02 Thursday, the same commander had already warned that Israel must withdraw 'today or face defeat.' The new remark reiterates the ultimatum in slightly different terms — adding 'voluntarily' and 'defeated' as the alternative — suggesting the IRGC is doubling down on its public posture.
The statement was accompanied by commentary from Israeli analyst Sharia Harosh, who told the channel that the threat 'comes from Iranian pressure, because the direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are taking place in Washington and they don't want them to succeed.' Harosh's assessment frames the threat as a reaction to the U.S.-mediated talks between Jerusalem and Beirut, which have reportedly progressed despite Iranian opposition.
This is the latest in a series of IRGC threats regarding southern Lebanon. Earlier reports in The Zioneer noted that senior Iranian negotiators claimed they were misled, expecting an Israeli withdrawal already at the start of the week. Israel has publicly rejected demands to withdraw, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly called leaving the security zone a 'red line.' The U.S., according to several reports, has been pressuring Israel to pull back as part of broader diplomatic efforts linked to the emerging U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.
The Quds Force commander's new statement does not provide a specific timeline beyond the general ultimatum. No immediate Israeli official response has been reported.
2 developments
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief Qaani addresses IDF soldiers in Hebrew: surrender or face 2000-style rout
- StrongIran conditions war-ending deal on Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
- StrongIRGC warns Israel: stop strikes in southern Lebanon or face severe consequences
- DevelopingIran-linked poll opens: Will Israel withdraw from southern Lebanon under US pressure?
Source and signal
- Internal intake