On Tuesday, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry announced that it had revoked the accreditation of Iran’s ambassador, granting him five days to depart.
At the same time, the Israeli military was mulling over a plan for a prolonged occupation of southern Lebanon in anticipation of an extended conflict with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group.
The Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires on Tuesday to inform him about the “decision of the Lebanese state to revoke the accreditation of the appointed Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, declaring him a person of character and requiring his departure from Lebanese territory by next Sunday at the latest.”
The ministry also recalled Ahmed Sweidan, Lebanon’s ambassador to Iran, for discussions on “violations of diplomatic norms and established practices by Iran.” This appears to reference the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), labeled as a terrorist organization, which has indicated it collaborates with Hezbollah to target Israel.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry expressed its anger over the Iranian ambassador’s “interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs” and for “conducting unofficial discussions with the Lebanese side without going through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Lebanese government declared that representatives of Hezbollah and allied militias would be viewed as “unofficial,” a decision influenced by Hezbollah’s military actions on March 5, reflecting Beirut’s growing frustration with the Iranian-backed factions dragging Lebanon into conflict with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed approval of Lebanon’s actions, labeling the removal of the Iranian ambassador a “just and necessary measure” against the state that infringes on Lebanon’s sovereignty, utilizes Hezbollah for indirect occupation, and leads Lebanon toward war.
“We urge the Lebanese government to take real action against Hezbollah, whose members remain part of the ministerial cabinet,” he mentioned, advocating for further steps to eliminate Iranian influence in Lebanese politics.
In response, Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the ambassador’s expulsion, calling it a “grave mistake” and urging Beirut to “immediately reverse” this decision.
Rising tensions between Lebanon and Israel have increased as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue their ground offensive against Hezbollah, displacing over a million civilians.
Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced that the IDF plans to establish a “defensive buffer zone” in southern Lebanon to “control the remaining bridges and a secure area up to Litani.”
Katz emphasized the need for occupation due to the Lebanese government’s inadequate response to Israeli alerts, warning that failure to disarm Hezbollah as per the ceasefire agreement post-Gaza war would lead to loss of territory.
He added that residents in southern Lebanon wouldn’t be able to return “until the safety of northern Israeli residents is assured.”
Earlier in March, Israel ordered the evacuation of areas south of the Litani River in preparation for extensive airstrikes and ground invasions. Five bridges spanning the river were bombed in efforts to obstruct the routes for Hezbollah’s elite fighters entering southern Lebanon. Humanitarian groups are expressing concerns regarding potential traps for civilians yet to be evacuated from conflict zones due to the closing of evacuation routes.
Hezbollah responded on Tuesday, stating that the Israeli occupation would present an “existential threat to Lebanon as a nation.”
