Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned on Friday that Lebanese and Palestinian fighters loyal to Tehran have their "finger on the trigger" in anticipation of an expected ground operation by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. Abdollahian, who met with leaders of Lebanese and Palestinian factions, stated, "What I have gathered from what I heard from them and their plans... is that they are putting their finger on the trigger."
Speaking to NPR from the United Nations, where he is attending a session of the General Assembly regarding the war in Gaza, Abdollahian added that their actions will be "more powerful and deeper than what you have seen." He continued, "Therefore, I believe that if this situation continues, and if the killing of women, children, and civilians in Gaza and the West Bank continues, everything will be possible." Abdollahian emphasized that the fighters will decide independently and not at the request of Iran. He stated, "We really do not want this crisis to expand."
His remarks followed the United States carrying out strikes on Thursday against two facilities used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and "groups affiliated with it" in eastern Syria.
