A building hit by Israeli aviation in Tehran, June 13, 2025. (Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP)
A Hezbollah official told Reuters on Friday that the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia will not unilaterally launch an attack against Israel in response to the Israeli strikes on Iran. “Hezbollah will not initiate an attack against Israel in retaliation for the strikes,” the official said anonymously.
Meanwhile, a source at the Grand Serail confirmed to L’Orient-Le Jour that the Lebanese Army has reached out to the party, urging it not to drag Lebanon into the conflict.
The country is still recovering from a devastating 13-month war between Hezbollah and the State of Israel. The conflict claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon and caused severe material damage across many cities and villages, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Hezbollah had unilaterally decided to open a "solidarit front" with Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, following the Hamas attack on Israel and the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
Hezbollah accuses Washington of covering Israel
In a statement released on Friday, Hezbollah also "strongly condemned the brutal Israeli aggression targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran." The party said the strikes on Iran "confirm that this enemy follows no logic or law, recognizing only the language of murder, fire, and destruction."
The statement added, "All recent efforts to preserve stability and security in the region have been undermined and destroyed by the Israeli government, exposing regional and international security to serious dangers with potentially catastrophic consequences."
It emphasized that Tehran has "always shown restraint in the face of Israeli provocations and aggression and has responded positively to international initiatives aimed at defusing the crisis, while firmly maintaining its natural right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as a means of ensuring the progress and welfare of its people."
The statement continued, "Hezbollah stresses that this aggression could not have taken place without the direct approval, coordination, and cover provided by the United States, despite Washington’s attempts to distance itself from the consequences," and extended condolences to Iran for the loss of its "noble martyrs."
At no point does Hezbollah mention a possible military response against Israel in its statement.
The party’s ally, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also issued a statement at noon condemning the Israeli attack on Iran, calling it "a threat to all independent states and to global peace and stability." He urged "the international community to take a clear and serious stance against Israeli aggressions that not only kill people and children […] but also undermine any genuine effort toward a just and comprehensive peace in the world, and especially in the Middle East."
'Threats against world peace'
Earlier in the day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun wrote on X that the “Israeli aggressions” against Iran “not only targeted the Iranian people but also all international efforts aimed at preserving stability in the Middle East.” He stressed that “these attacks seek to undermine ongoing initiatives and mediations designed to prevent further deterioration — initiatives that had already made significant progress.”
He called on the international community to take “swift and effective action to stop Israel from achieving its clearly evident goals, which, if realized, could have the most serious consequences.” President Aoun also extended his condolences to the Iranian authorities for the victims of the Israeli strikes at dawn, both military and civilian, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly condemned the serious Israeli aggression against Iran, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty. He warned that its consequences threaten the stability of the entire region and even world peace. A source at the Grand Serail also emphasized that decisions regarding war and peace lie solely with the State.
The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM, aligned with former President Michel Aoun) expressed concern in a statement about the Israeli strikes and their potential impact on Lebanon. The FPM stressed that “Lebanon should not be involved in this conflict,” urging everyone to maintain the country’s neutrality and avoid intervention, for the sake of the nation’s best interests and to protect the security of its people and institutions.
