Iran warns US of major retaliation if Israel storms Hezbollah-held ridge in Lebanon

According to a Reuters report, Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to any full-scale Israeli offensive on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The ridge, believed to house a Hezbollah command center and weapons stores, is reportedly the site where over a dozen members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including at least two senior officers, are stationed alongside Hezbollah fighters. The message, reportedly delivered last month via Oman, underscores Iran's continued direct involvement in the conflict in southern Lebanon. While Hezbollah has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of Iranian forces, Lebanese security sources indicate that the group maintains access to its positions through the northern side of the ridge. The Israeli military has identified the area as a primary operational focus and is currently attempting to weaken Hezbollah's hold by besieging the site and blocking supply deliveries. A White House official dismissed reports of U.S. pressure on Israel to avoid an attack as inaccurate, and the Israeli military declined to comment on the matter.