IRGC: No peace without Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on Thursday regarding recent events in Lebanon, asserting that international condemnations have failed to deter what it called the "bloodthirsty rulers" of Tel Aviv. The statement, reported by Press TV, accused the "arrogant American regime" of increasing crime and genocide under the pretext of establishing peace. The IRGC described the Israeli army as "cowardly and incapable," claiming it compensates for battlefield defeats by killing civilians and destroying homes, hospitals, and schools.

The statement further criticized Israel, saying that despite unlimited support from the United States and European countries, it has not been able to win the hearts of the people of even a single occupied village. "Its skill is merely ruling over burned lands," the IRGC said, adding that every day the homes of oppressed people in Palestine and Lebanon are destroyed by the aggressor regime.

The IRGC asserted that the Lebanese nation will not allow Israel to achieve through a forced agreement what it could not achieve through war, even with the support of the "child-killing American regime." It stated that its primary condition for accepting a ceasefire in the regional war is a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. The IRGC demanded that the enemy urgently halt attacks on the Lebanese people, immediately withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories back behind international borders, and recognize Lebanon's territorial integrity.

"The Lebanese nation is the pride of the Ummah and a symbol of the honor of the region's peoples. We will support them with all our being. No peace will be established in the region without withdrawal from the occupied territories of Lebanon," the statement said.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on the Dahiyeh area, a predominantly Shia district in Beirut's southern suburbs, and issued evacuation orders covering the entire area. In response, Iran's central military command warned that if Israel carried out its threat to bomb southern Beirut, Iranian forces would retaliate against the northern occupied territories. Iran's Foreign Ministry also said Tehran was ready to help Lebanon resist the "illegal aggression," adding that a Lebanon ceasefire is "an integral part of any ceasefire and any final agreement" with the United States.

Shortly after Iran's warning, US President Donald Trump claimed on social media that he had intervened, stating he held a "very productive conversation" with Netanyahu that prevented further escalation. He also said he had reached an understanding with Hezbollah through senior representatives, claiming the resistance group agreed to halt attacks in exchange for Israel refraining from strikes. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between Tehran and Washington, which also covers Lebanon, has been in place since early April, though Israel has continued carrying out daily attacks on the Arab country in violation of the truce. Iran has repeatedly said that any ceasefire must be comprehensive, covering all fronts, including Lebanon, and has warned it will not tolerate continued Israeli attacks on the country. According to Mehr News, the IRGC's statement reinforces Iran's position that a comprehensive ceasefire is necessary for regional peace.