Hezbollah fired an Iranian-manufactured Falaq-1 rocket toward Majdal Shams. The attack (July 27) has heightened tensions in the region, prompting a strong response from Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a stern warning to Israel against any "new adventurism by the Zionist regime towards Lebanon," using the incident as a pretext. The spokesperson underscored that Hezbollah's high-ranking officials have denied any involvement in the attack and accused Israel of fabricating scenarios to divert global attention from the war in Gaza.
On June 8, Iranian Press TV (an Iranian English channel used for propaganda targeting Western audiences) reported that Hezbollah deployed a new missile in its latest anti-Israeli operation, identifying the projectile as the Falaq (Dawn)-2. Hezbollah said, "This is the first time that Hezbollah has used Falaq-2 missiles throughout the Al-Aqsa Storm." Technical details of the missiles are as follows:
Falaq-1:
240-mm caliber
1.25 meters in length
Uses a 50-kilogram warhead
Operates on solid fuel
Highly destructive capability
Falaq-2:
333-mm caliber
1.82 meters in length
Uses a 117-kilogram warhead
Faster and more destructive than Falaq-1
Operates on solid fuel
Highly destructive capability
The aftermath of the Hezballah attack has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity. The United States and European countries are working to contain the incident and prevent a strong Israeli response, aiming to avoid an escalation that could lead to a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, which might also involve Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned against any "new adventurism by the Zionist regime towards Lebanon" under the pretext of the Majdal Shams incident. He referenced Hezbollah's high-ranking officials denying any involvement in the attacks, stating, "The apartheid Israeli regime... is trying to divert public opinion and global attention from its extensive crimes in Palestine with a fabricated scenario."
The spokesperson emphasized that it is the duty of the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to support the stability and security of Lebanon and the region against the Zionist regime's aggressive actions. He warned: "Any reckless move by the Zionist regime could lead to increased instability, insecurity, and the spread of war in the region, making Israel solely and primarily responsible for the consequences and unexpected reactions resulting from such irresponsible behavior."
The spokesperson urged the U.S. government to cease its continuous "arming of the Zionist regime with weapons of mass destruction and to stop honoring the criminal Prime Minister of this regime after ten months of ongoing crimes against the Palestinians. Instead, the U.S. should fulfill its international and moral responsibilities for global peace and security and prevent the Zionist regime from initiating new, incendiary actions that will ultimately backfire on them."
Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon, Mujtaba Amani, dismissed the possibility of a wider regional war due to the existing "power equations." Amani said that Iran does "not want this war," as it "always seeks" de-escalation in the region, but "does not fear the war" either, adding that the "enemies" could "imagine what we can do with the power, capability, and defense of the Resistance that we have."
Mohsen Rezaei, member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and Former IRGC commander, said that Netanyahu, driven by either desperation or madness, "believes he can escape the Gaza quagmire by initiating a war in Lebanon. However, he is stepping into an even deeper and more dreadful situation".
Iranian broadcast media supported Hezbollah's denial of involvement in the Majdal Shams attack, alleging that a misfired Israeli intercept rocket from the Iron Dome defense system caused the deadly incident. Press TV asserted, "Hezbollah has never lied before, while Israel has," and suggested that Israel was seeking a "pretext" to initiate a full-scale war. Kayhan, Khamenei's mouthpiece, wrote on its front page: "Misfired Missile Leads to Israel's Strike on Occupied Golan, Resulting in Dozens of Casualties."
Iran has been supplying Hezbollah with the precise missiles and drones that are being fired at Israel. This support to Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and Palestinian terrorist organizations is a central part of the national security strategy. By providing advanced weaponry and military support, Iran aims to create a "ring of fire" around Israel, thereby increasing pressure and threats from multiple fronts. This strategy is designed to destabilize and weaken Israel and strengthen Iran's influence in the region.
The goal of this strategy is to practically realize the vision of the revolution's founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, who called for the destruction of Israel. Iran's involvement in supporting various terrorist non-state actors furthers this objective by enhancing their capabilities to launch attacks against Israel and Western assets in the Middle East. This approach serves Iran's ideological goals and geopolitical interests by expanding its sphere of influence across the Middle East and countering Western powers' and their allies' presence and influence.
In light of Arab states' ongoing weakness, Iran poses itself as the leader of the struggle against "the Zionist Regime." It operates over the heads of Arab rulers and seeks to mobilize the support of the Arab masses. Iran implements this policy without regard for the country's severe economic situation and the price its citizens pay for its regional adventurism. The support for the "Resistance Camp," estimated at tens of millions of dollars, comes at the expense of Iranian citizens.
The U.S. policy of containment towards Iran, including the unfreezing of funds, easing of oil export restrictions, and leniency towards human rights violations, the export of revolution, and subversion in Arab states, allows Iran to continue advancing its policy without paying any real political-economic price.
Iran's newly inaugurated president, sworn in July 28 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, faces a critical political test early in his tenure. During the inauguration ceremony, the Supreme Leader made it clear that the president would enjoy his support only as long as he consistently followed the straight path of Islam and the Revolution.
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