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Hezbollah said Saturday that Iran had signaled it would continue backing the Lebanese group and had pushed for Lebanon to be included in any cease-fire deal aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its chief, Naim Qassem, received a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlining Tehran’s position.
The message said Iran “will not give up its support for movements demanding justice and freedom, foremost among them Hezbollah.”
Hezbollah said Iran’s latest proposal, delivered through Pakistani mediators, seeks “a permanent and stable end to the war.”
The group added that the proposal also stressed “the demand to include Lebanon in the cease-fire,” as Israeli attacks continue to hit towns and villages across the country.
Hezbollah said Araghchi’s message made clear that Tehran wanted Lebanon included in efforts to end the regional war.
Lebanese authorities, however, have said the country’s ongoing talks with Israel under U.S. auspices must remain separate from Iran-U.S. negotiations.
The U.S. has hosted three rounds of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel aimed at ending the latest conflict.
Security talks with Israel are scheduled at the Pentagon for May 29, while a fourth round of negotiations is planned for June.
Hezbollah has strongly rejected the direct talks.
Israel struck south Lebanon on Saturday despite an April 17 cease-fire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and later extended for several weeks.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Israeli airstrikes on multiple locations in south Lebanon, some after Israel issued evacuation warnings to around 15 villages.
The Lebanese military said one strike targeted an army barracks in Nabatieh, wounding a soldier.
Israel has continued attacks across Lebanon, while Hezbollah has also kept up attacks on Israeli targets in south Lebanon and northern Israel.
Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli air defense platforms across the border on Saturday.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks had killed 3,123 people since March 2.
The ministry also condemned an overnight strike that damaged a hospital in the southern city of Tyre, calling it “further proof of the Israeli enemy's violation of humanitarian law.”
Israel had issued overnight evacuation warnings for two sites in Tyre.
An AFP correspondent saw shattered glass, blown-out ceiling panels and damaged medical equipment at Hiram hospital near one of the targeted locations.
Hospital CEO Dr. Salman Aydibi told AFP that around 40 patients were inside when the warning came.
“We took the patients to a safer location” inside the hospital, he said, adding that no patients were harmed but around 30 staff members sustained minor injuries.
He said the hospital remained operational.
Israel’s army said it targeted “Hezbollah infrastructure sites in Tyre,” adding that “prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians.”
Another AFP correspondent saw heavy damage at the targeted sites in the city.
“I don't know what happened, it felt like doomsday,” said Wisam Baroud, who lives near one site.
“We quickly got dressed, rushed outside, and started running,” Baroud said, showing her damaged home.
Israel’s army also targeted a Hezbollah compound in east Lebanon overnight.
The latest developments came after Washington announced sanctions that included a Lebanese officer accused of sharing information with Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s military stressed this week that its soldiers were loyal to the institution.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Under the cease-fire terms published by Washington, Israel reserves the right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”
Israeli troops who entered Lebanon are also operating inside an Israeli-announced “yellow line” running around 10 kilometers deep along Lebanon’s southern border.
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