Iran Pledges Unwavering Support For Lebanon As US Pushes For Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah

Tehran: A top Iranian official expressed his country's steadfast support for Lebanon following discussions with Lebanese leaders on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The talks took place on Friday, as the United States continued its efforts to broker a new ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

Ali Larijani, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, expressed hope that the situation in Lebanon would soon improve, allowing displaced people to return to their homes.

‘Iran Will Stand By Lebanon’s Government’“The main aim of our visit is to loudly say that we will stand by Lebanon’s government and people,” Larijani told reporters after separate meetings with parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

US Pushing For Ceasefire Deal, Wants De-Escalation In RegionThe United States has been working to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, following the escalation of the 13-month Israel-Hamas war, which expanded in September to include southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Both Hezbollah and Hamas receive support from Iran.

Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.

78 Killed In Fresh Israeli AirstrikesThe Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that Israeli airstrikes across multiple regions in Lebanon have caused 78 fatalities and injured 122 others in the past 24 hours.

In the southern regions of Saida and Tyre, the strikes resulted in the highest casualties, with 39 dead and 69 injured.

Mount Lebanon also faced heavy losses, with 24 deaths and 17 injured.

In Nabatiyeh, 13 people lost their lives, and 25 were injured.

The Baalbeck-Hermel Province in the northeast reported two fatalities and 11 injuries.

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, the overall death toll since the beginning of the aggression has reached 3,365, with 14,344 people injured.

(With inputs from AP).