Lebanon Pushes Back on Iran as Israel-Hezbollah Fighting Escalates

Lebanon’s leaders condemned Iran and warned that Beirut should not be used as a bargaining chip as heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah rages in the south; evacuation orders force residents to flee villages such as Anqoun and Dibbine, while U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanese troops clear rubble and monitor security. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged a complete, comprehensive ceasefire in line with Hezbollah’s withdrawal. Separately, U.S. forces boarded an Iran-linked tanker in the Indian Ocean as part of pressure on Tehran amid the broader conflict. The war has killed thousands in Lebanon and Israeli casualties and civilians since it began.