Qalibaf threatens Washington and Tel Aviv… and the latter raises its alert level.

Iran escalated its rhetoric following the Israeli aggression on Beirut’s southern suburbs, asserting that the United States and Israel had once again proven that they “only understand the language of force,” while Israeli media announced that they had raised the level of security alert in anticipation of a possible Iranian response.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that the naval blockade imposed on Iran and Israeli violations of agreements related to Lebanon confirm that Washington and Tel Aviv are not committed to dialogue or a ceasefire.

Qalibaf wrote in a post on the “X” platform: “They do not adhere to the ceasefire and do not believe in dialogue, and through the naval blockade and the violation of agreements related to Lebanon, they have shown that they only understand the language of force.”

He added that “the naval blockade imposed on Iran, and the American green light that the United States gave today to the Zionist entity, turn American bases and assets and the Zionist entity’s bases in the region into legitimate targets,” stressing that “the hand of our armed forces is free as it has always been.”

For his part, the head of the Iranian judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, stressed that Iran stands with Lebanon, considering that “Iran and the resistance in Lebanon stand side by side and each complements the capabilities of the other.”

Ejei said that the Lebanese resistance “is not just a name and title, but rather an echo of jealousy, zeal, honor and steadfastness,” adding that the relationship between Iran and the Lebanese people “is a bond of blood and principles and will remain firm and clear even in the most difficult and trying moments.”

In contrast, Israel’s Channel 14 reported that Tel Aviv raised its alert level to the maximum following Iranian threats to launch an attack in the coming hours.

In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding an urgent security meeting this evening, with the participation of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and senior army commanders, to discuss Iranian threats and recent security developments.

Earlier today, the Israeli occupation army launched a raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting two residential apartments in the Tahwita al-Ghadir – al-Muraijah area, resulting in the death of two martyrs and the injury of 11 people, according to an initial count.

The Axios website quoted Israeli officials as saying that the raid was in response to the recent rocket attack attributed to Hezbollah, while an American official and two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to the website that Israel had informed the administration of US President Donald Trump in advance of the decision to carry out the attack.

Sources quoted by Axios also indicated that Israel informed Washington that Hezbollah’s continued attacks give it the right to target Beirut.