Khamenei's Advisor to Israel: If You Attack Hezbollah, We Will Enter with All Our Capabilities

The advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran warned that if Israel launches a comprehensive attack against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, there is a risk of starting "a regional war" in which the Islamic Republic and the "Axis of Resistance" will stand alongside Hezbollah with "all capabilities." The German publication "Bild" also reported, citing diplomatic sources, that the war between Israel and Hezbollah could begin in mid-July. Kamal Kharrazi, advisor to Ali Khamenei on foreign affairs and former foreign minister of Iran, stated in an interview with the "Financial Times" published on Tuesday, July 2, that Tehran has "no interest in a regional war" but if the conflict expands to the entire region, "all countries, including Iran, will be involved." He added that under such circumstances, they have "no choice but to support Hezbollah." According to Kharrazi, the expansion of the war "is not in the interest of any party; neither Iran nor the United States." In recent weeks, concerns about an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, raising worries in the West about Iran's potential response should such a war occur. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned last week during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart that the continued daily attacks by Hezbollah on Israel in recent months could lead Israelis and Lebanese into an unintended war, which would be a "catastrophe" for Lebanon. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that due to the halt in negotiations by mediators to reach a political solution that would distance Hezbollah forces from the border with Lebanon, U.S. and European officials have warned Hezbollah that if Israel decides to initiate military operations in Lebanon, they should not expect Washington or any other entity to restrain Israeli leaders. The Iranian delegation to the United Nations in New York warned Israel on July 2 via a message on X that if it takes steps towards an all-out war against Hezbollah, such a war would be "devastating." The Israeli foreign minister responded to the Iranian delegation's message, stating that a country that threatens destruction deserves it. Analysts in Israeli media recently noted that Tehran seems to be preparing for direct attacks on Israel, similar to the attack on April 15. Israeli military experts have assessed that Tehran's warning conveys the message that it is ready to deploy Iran's military capabilities to support Hezbollah, the Islamic Republic's largest proxy. Kharrazi did not clarify what Iran's use of "all tools to support Hezbollah" means. The Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister recently stated that they prefer a diplomatic solution to the military crisis with Hezbollah in Lebanon but are prepared for any other scenario. Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, stated last week during a visit to northern Israel that they are awaiting a political resolution but the army is prepared for any other possibility. Benjamin Netanyahu also mentioned that the entry of the Israeli army into a new phase of the Gaza war (meaning targeted operations and reduced heavy bombardments in the Gaza Strip) would allow the army to transfer some of its forces to the north. Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, expressed concern that the situation could spiral out of control. He stated last week after a two-day visit to northern Israel that if the world wakes up one day to find a war has broken out, it should not be surprised. The Israeli attack in Lebanon is planned for this month, likely after mid-July, unless Hezbollah stops its attacks on Israel. Diplomatic sources told Bild that if Hezbollah's attacks continue, Israel's ground operations in Lebanon could begin in the third or fourth week of July. Many Western and Arab governments in the region have recently urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately due to concerns about the outbreak of a large-scale war. The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had attacked Hezbollah targets in Aitaroun and Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon. The Sunday attacks were a response to the injury of 18 Israeli soldiers in an explosive drone attack by Hezbollah on Saturday night in northern Israel. However, Hezbollah also carried out further attacks against Israel on Monday, triggering rocket attack sirens in parts of northern Israel. Since the attack by members of the extremist Hamas group on Israeli territory on October 7 last year, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 253 to Gaza, Hezbollah has initiated a parallel war with Israel that has continued for 270 days. Israel has evacuated residents from cities near Lebanon since the first week of the crisis on its northern border. Many homes and public facilities in these cities have been damaged in Hezbollah's attacks. The lack of security for the return of Israeli refugees to their homes has become a serious crisis for the Israeli government. Hezbollah has conditioned its cessation of attacks on Israel on the end of the Gaza war. In response to daily rocket attacks and incursions by Hezbollah's reconnaissance and suicide drones into Israeli airspace, the Israeli army has been continuously bombing targets in southern Lebanon and beyond for the past nine months. Israel's responses in southern Lebanon have caused significant destruction, with over 550 Lebanese, including about 360 Hezbollah members, killed so far. On the Israeli side, 27 people, including 16 soldiers, have been killed.