Israeli strikes on Hezbollah risk unraveling ceasefire as Iran signals possible missile response

Iranian officials signaled a commitment to defend Hezbollah if Israeli operations persist, raising the possibility of renewed missile barrages.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Strikes by Israeli forces against Hezbollah in Lebanon could prompt Iran to resume missile fire on Israel, officials said, as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, while fighting continued on the Lebanese front.

The IDF halted fire in Iran under political direction but maintained high readiness while continuing operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and preparing for a possible response from Tehran.

Iranian officials signaled a commitment to defend Hezbollah if Israeli operations persist, raising the possibility of renewed missile barrages.

Less than a day after the ceasefire began, the Israeli Air Force completed a wave of strikes against dozens of launch sites across Iran to disrupt a planned barrage toward Israel. At the same time, operations in Lebanon intensified.

In one major operation, dubbed Operation Eternal Darkness, the IDF struck more than 100 targets using about 160 munitions in under 10 minutes.

The strikes targeted central headquarters and operatives ranging from field-level positions to senior ranks. If confirmed, the operation would mark one of the most significant blows to Hezbollah in the war.

The IDF said the strike was planned in advance and carried out when operational conditions allowed, with the aim of damaging Hezbollah’s command-and-control systems.

The chief of staff monitored the operation from military headquarters in Tel Aviv and emphasized continued operations against Hezbollah.

Iranian officials warned of escalation if operations in Lebanon continue.

A spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee called for strong deterrent measures, while Iranian media cited a security source as saying Tehran is preparing actions against military targets in Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would retaliate if strikes in Lebanon persist, signaling the potential for wider escalation.

In a statement aired by IRIB, the IRGC accused Israel of committing a “brutal massacre” in Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced and warned that if “aggressions” against “dear Lebanon” continue, it will “act upon our duty” and carry out a “regret-inducing response” against what it described as “evil aggressors in the region.”

US forces remain in the region and are being reinforced. The Trump administration is expected to use the ceasefire period to build up forces, maintain pressure in negotiations over a permanent arrangement and preserve military options if the truce does not hold.

The situation has been described as a containment phase, with intermittent flare-ups and partial adherence to the ceasefire. Developments in Lebanon remain a key factor, with a planned high-level meeting in Islamabad on Friday seen as a potential stabilizing point.

The IDF said it is operating on the assumption that fighting with Iran could resume on short notice, requiring forces to remain ready as Iran regroups and potentially prepares for renewed attacks.