Iran has warned the United States that it would carry out a major retaliatory strike if Israel launches a full-scale offensive against the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Middle East Eye reported, citing a Reuters account based on three officials familiar with the communication.
According to two regional officials cited in the report, Tehran conveyed the message to Washington through Oman in mid-August. The warning concerned the prospect of a large Israeli operation targeting the ridge, which the report described as strategically important.
The available account did not provide details about the form, scale or potential targets of the retaliatory action mentioned by Iran. It also did not identify the three officials briefed on the warning or specify the exact date on which the message was delivered. No further information was provided about how Washington responded directly to Tehran.
A third official told Reuters that pressure from the United States led Israel to delay an assault on the Ali al-Taher ridge. The report did not specify when the planned operation had been expected to take place, how long it had been postponed or whether Israel had made a final decision concerning the ridge.
The account presents the Iranian warning and the reported postponement as connected developments: Tehran communicated the threat of retaliation through an intermediary, while Washington subsequently pressed Israel over the proposed offensive. However, the material provided no official statements from Iran, the United States, Israel, Lebanon or Oman confirming those events.
Oman’s reported role was limited to serving as the channel through which Iran delivered its warning to the United States. The report did not describe any additional mediation effort by Muscat or indicate whether further messages had passed between the parties after the mid-August communication.
The Ali al-Taher ridge was identified in the report as being in southern Lebanon and having strategic significance. Beyond that description, no details were given about the location, military presence in the area or the objectives Israel might have pursued through a full-scale assault. The report also did not say what conditions Tehran believed would constitute such an offensive.
The claims therefore rest on the accounts of three unnamed officials briefed on the matter. Two addressed the timing and route of the Iranian warning, while the third attributed Israel’s reported postponement to US pressure. Middle East Eye carried the report as an update citing Reuters.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iran-warns-us-retaliation-if-israel-storms-southern-lebanon-ridge.