Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, said on Sunday that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are directing Hezbollah’s operations in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
In an interview with Al Hadath TV, Salam again criticised Hezbollah, accusing it of dragging Lebanon into the ongoing Middle East war by launching rockets at Israel.
Salam said the conflict had been framed as retaliation for the killing of Ali Khamenei, who he said was killed on the first day of a US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February.
“This means the war was imposed on us,” he added.
Referring to a drone strike earlier this month that hit a British military base in Cyprus, Salam said the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had launched the drones from Lebanon.
READ: Spanish foreign minister urges end to Israeli offensive in Lebanon
He said the group is present in Lebanon and is “unfortunately managing the military operation.” “They have forged passports and entered the country illegally,” he added.
Earlier this month, a drone believed to be Iranian-made struck a British base in Cyprus. At the time, authorities in Nicosia said it was likely launched by Hezbollah from Lebanese territory rather than from Iran.
Salam said the Revolutionary Guard’s announcement of joint and coordinated operations with Hezbollah against Israel was further evidence that it is leading the war in Lebanon.
This month, the Lebanese government decided to ban all activities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the country.
It also banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities and called on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.
“We are committed to the decisions we have taken and are working to implement them,” Salam said.
READ: Yemen’s Houthis warns of action as regional tensions escalate
