IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani reiterated Thursday night that if Israel does not withdraw from southern Lebanon voluntarily, it will be forced out defeated. Israeli commentator Yotam Zameri said Qaani was 'in principle right,' noting that Israel's previous withdrawal from Lebanon was humiliating and that a future government with advocates of a 'sacrifice zone' policy could allow it to happen again.
At 21:42 Jerusalem, IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani reiterated his threat that if Israel does not withdraw from southern Lebanon voluntarily, it will be forced out defeated. The new development is an updated public statement, first reported Thursday at 14:01, that has since drawn responses from Defense Minister Katz (who rejected withdrawal) and, now, Israeli commentator Yotam Zameri, who told The Zioneer that Qaani is 'in principle right' — noting that Israel's 2000 withdrawal was humiliating and a future government could allow a repeat.
As The Zioneer reported at 14:01 Jerusalem (version 1), Qaani initially warned that Israel must withdraw 'today' or face defeat 'tomorrow.' Within the same hour, the thread expanded: analyst Sharia Harosh linked the threat to Iranian pressure over direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Washington (version 2); and Defense Minister Katz stated the IDF would remain in security zones indefinitely (version 3). By 19:14 Jerusalem, The Zioneer had published a summary noting an Iranian source called full withdrawal a 'red line' for Iran. The latest Zameri commentary adds an Israeli domestic political dimension to the evolving Israeli reaction.
Against the wider background, as The Zioneer reported on Sunday June 21, Prime Minister Netanyahu has told aides that withdrawal from southern Lebanon is a 'red line,' even as associates anticipate a US demand to withdraw. Those dynamics, alongside Iran's stated condition for a deal (reported June 19), frame Qaani's reiteration as part of an ongoing political and information battle.
No operational details or ultimatum accompany this reiteration. No official Israeli response to Zameri's remarks has been reported.
4 developments
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief Qaani addresses IDF soldiers in Hebrew: surrender or face 2000-style rout
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief warns Hezbollah will keep fighting in southern Lebanon
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief warns of united front after Yemen attacks
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief Qaani warns US and Israel: new pressure points will open
Source and signal
- Internal intake