Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking at a commemorative ceremony in honor of Qassem Soleimani in Tehran in Jan. 2024. (Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP)
BEIRUT — The commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, on Monday threatened Israel with a repeat of what he called Israel’s "humiliating defeat" in 2000 in southern Lebanon, "in the event it does not voluntarily withdraw" from the Lebanese territories it has occupied since March 2.
In 2000, the Israeli army, which had occupied what was then known as the "border strip" between the two countries since the 1980s, withdrew unilaterally without an agreement. The Hezbollah camp then considered this a great victory, celebrated every year on May 25. However, it refused to acknowledge that Lebanese territory was entirely liberated, pending the status of the disputed Shebaa Farms sector (with Syria). This 2000 liberation is largely attributed to the resistance of Hezbollah, an Iranian ally.
In an interview published Monday in Russia Today, Qaani addressed Israeli soldiers with the following message: "You have lost, in less than four days, 100 of your own killed or wounded, and if you do not withdraw on your own accord, you will be expelled and humiliated, as during the epic event of 2000." The Israeli army last week acknowledged the death of six of its soldiers in fighting in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Israel have been at war since Hezbollah launched missiles at Israeli territory on March 2, 2026, in support of Iran after the Israeli-American attack on that country. The Israeli army currently occupies about 6% of Lebanese territory, and has completely or partially destroyed dozens of villages and towns. More than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, with Israeli casualties significantly lower.
The adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said he held the U.S. responsible "for Israeli aggression and provocations in Lebanon." "The United States supports the current escalation," he said, referring to the intense fighting before the most recent cease-fire came into effect two days ago.
Iran and the United States began talks in Switzerland on Sunday, with Lebanon as one of the main topics. This did not stop U.S. President Donald Trump from threatening Tehran with new strikes if it does not rein in its ally Hezbollah.
