In the midst of the escalating risks threatening Lebanon due to the ongoing turmoil along the southern borders, Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, arrived in Beirut yesterday. This is not his first visit since the outbreak of the Gaza war, and it comes just days before a speech described as "critical" by Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, scheduled for this Friday. According to "Nidaa al-Watan," Qaani's visit recalls similar visits by the former commander of the Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, and occurs against the backdrop of the ground war that has begun in the Gaza Strip. Tehran considers this conflict a "red line" that, if crossed, could lead to mobilization of fronts belonging to Iran's allies, primarily Hezbollah.
Coinciding with Qaani's arrival, Hezbollah's military media distributed a report detailing the results of military operations against Israeli positions along the southern Lebanon border since October 8. The figures indicate that these operations have resulted in the death or injury of 120 Israeli soldiers, the destruction of 9 tanks, and the downing of an Israeli drone. The group also announced the execution of 105 attacks targeting intelligence, communication systems, jamming systems, and 33 radar installations.
At night, reports indicated heavy Israeli aircraft activity over the southern suburbs of Beirut. The presence of the Quds Force leader in Lebanon coincides with the arrival of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu in Beirut starting today.
