IRGC demands immediate halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, rejects West's truce

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has called for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon and rejected any ceasefire that does not include all fronts.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the IRGC vowed that the nations of the region will not abandon the Lebanese people as Israeli strikes continued to hit southern Lebanon and areas near Beirut.

"The enemy must immediately halt its attacks on the people of Lebanon, and swiftly withdraw to international borders by evacuating the occupied Lebanese territories, and recognize the territorial integrity of Lebanon," the IRGC said.

The statement called Lebanon a "land of honor and dignity" and said the territory remains "under the brutal onslaught of the usurping Zionist regime."

It added that "the opposition and expressions of disgust by international organizations, countries, and nations of the world have had no impact on the behavior of the bloodthirsty rulers of Tel Aviv."

The IRGC was referring to numerous UN resolutions, statements from the European Union, and condemnations from Arab and Muslim-majority countries that have called for a ceasefire in Lebanon since the war expanded on March 2.

The IRGC stated that "from the interventions of the arrogant US regime under the pretext of establishing peace, no result has been seen except an increase in crime and genocide."

The United States has been Israel's closest ally throughout the aggression, providing military aid and diplomatic cover at the UN Security Council.

The IRGC described the Israeli military as "cowardly and incapable," saying that "with all that equipment, it compensates for its defeats on the battlefields by slaughtering civilians and destroying homes, hospitals, and schools."

"This is a racist regime that, despite the endless support of America and European governments throughout its shameful existence, has not even been able to win the hearts of the people of a single occupied village," the statement said.

"Its skill has continuously been ruling over scorched earths, and every day we witness the destruction of the homes of the oppressed people of Palestine and Lebanon at the hands of that aggressive regime," the IRGC added.

The IRGC emphasized that "the nations of the region will not leave the people of Lebanon alone."

“The Lebanese nation is the pride of the Islamic Ummah and the symbol of honor for the nations of the region. We will support them with all our being, and no tranquility will be established in the region without a withdrawal from the occupied areas of Lebanon."  

The statement is directed at both Arab governments and non-state actors. While several Arab states have normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords, popular sentiment across the region remains supportive of Lebanon and Hezbollah.

"The Lebanese nation will not allow the usurping regime to achieve through an imposed contract, backed by the child-killing US regime, what it failed to gain in war," the IRGC added.

The "imposed contract" refers to the US-backed ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Lebanon's Western-supported government, which reportedly call for Hezbollah's withdrawal from the South Litani sector.

"Our primary condition for accepting a ceasefire in the regional war has been a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon," the IRGC reiterated.

The IRGC statement came after Iran issued a direct ultimatum to Israel earlier this week, pledging to void its ceasefire with Washington and enter the conflict if Israel proceeded with a planned bombardment of Beirut's Dahiyeh district.

Iran warns northern Israeli settlers to flee if Beirut suburbs come under attack

Iran’s highest operational command unit warns residents in northern areas and military settlements in the occupied territories to leave the area amid Israel’s threats to bomb Lebanon.

The Iranian warning reportedly forced US President Donald Trump to make a profanity-laced phone call to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ordering him to halt the aggression and turn back troops allegedly heading toward Beirut.

Trump later announced on Truth Social: "There will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back."

Despite Trump's announcement and the reported de-escalation understanding, Israeli forces have continued to strike targets across Lebanon, including attacks near the capital.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported strikes on approximately 20 locations in the country's south on Wednesday, with the Israeli military issuing evacuation warnings for six villages and towns in southern Lebanon ahead of airstrikes.

Residents of the six villages were instructed to evacuate and head north of the Zahrani River, a natural boundary roughly 50 kilometers north of the Lebanese border, where Israeli warnings have pushed tens of thousands of civilians northward.

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