Russia’s Top Diplomat: Hezbollah, Iran, Lebanon Not Seeking War with Israel

Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, stated that Hezbollah, along with its main backer Iran and the Lebanese government, does not desire “a full-blown war,” suspecting that some factions within Israel might be seeking exactly that.

Speaking at a U.N. news conference on Wednesday, Lavrov emphasized that Russia is doing everything possible to reduce tensions. He also expressed hope that Western nations would work to ensure that Israel refrains from acting on what U.S. and European analysts describe as Israel’s “provocative mindsets.”

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in Gaza last October, Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire almost daily. The U.S. and the international community have been advocating for calm, hoping that diplomacy will prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader Middle Eastern war.

If war were to break out, Israel would face a much stronger adversary in Hezbollah than in Gaza. Hezbollah is the most significant paramilitary force in the Arab world, with a robust internal structure and a large arsenal. Israel considers Hezbollah its most direct threat.

Lavrov highlighted that both Iran’s previous government and its new president have taken a responsible stance, indicating that Iran is not interested in escalating the conflict.

Lavrov also noted that U.S. and European analysts believe that Israel is interested in escalation, as evidenced by recent developments.

According to Lavrov, Hezbollah has shown considerable restraint, with its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah making several public statements reaffirming this position. However, there is a sentiment that efforts are being made to provoke Hezbollah into a full-scale engagement.

Since the conflict began, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 450 deaths, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also more than 80 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 21 soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed.