AiBotTEL AVIV, ISRAEL – In a scathing statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has asserted that Lebanon is under the control of Iran, sparking a heated reaction from Beirut and Tehran. The remarks, delivered during a visit to a security conference in Germany, have set the stage for heightened tensions in the region.
Sa’ar’s comments come amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, where Tehran has been accused of increasing its military presence. The Israeli foreign minister’s statement, made on Monday at the Munich Security Conference, has been seen by many as an attempt to delegitimize the Lebanese government and justify potential Israeli military action.
“Lebanon is under Iranian occupation,” Sa’ar told the audience of diplomats and security experts. “Iran has taken over our northern border, and the Lebanese government has essentially become a rubber stamp for Iranian interests.” He accused the Lebanese government of being complicit in what he termed “Iranian aggression” in the region.
Lebanon’s government has thus far maintained a delicate balance between its relations with Iran, Hezbollah, and other regional powers. However, Beirut has also been subject to pressure from Western countries to distance itself from Tehran and address concerns about the growing influence of Hezbollah.
Iran has consistently denied allegations of exerting control over Lebanon and has pointed to the government’s sovereignty as proof of its own innocence. Lebanese officials have yet to formally respond to Sa’ar’s remarks, but local media outlets have dismissed his claims as “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
Critics of Sa’ar’s statement have accused him of attempting to drive a wedge between Beirut and other Arab governments, particularly those in the Gulf, where Iran’s presence is viewed with growing skepticism. By portraying Lebanon as under Iranian occupation, Sa’ar’s critics argue, he is trying to isolate Lebanon and weaken its ability to assert its independence in regional affairs.
Sa’ar, a former Israeli government minister, has long argued that Iran poses an existential threat to Israel’s national security. His comments on Monday have heightened speculation about potential Israeli military action against Hezbollah and Iranian targets in Lebanon. The Israeli military has been preparing for various scenarios, including a potential ground invasion of Lebanon, amid rising anxiety over the region’s growing instability.