Iran could push reluctant Hezbollah into regional war, IDF official warns

In the event of a military altercation between Israel and Iran, the Islamic Republic could order Lebanon-based Hezbollah to strike Israel, a senior IDF official was quoted as saying in an AFP report on Tuesday.

Describing possible scenarios of renewed hostility between Israel and Hezbollah, the official characterized Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as reluctant to enter into another conflict with the Jewish state but beholden to Iran, which provides much of Hezbollah’s funding.

The official also expressed optimism that another conflict would be of a shorter duration than the 34-day altercation of 2006, which saw thousands of rockets rain on northern Israel and IDF strikes deep into Lebanese territory.

Last week, Nasrallah told supporters that Hezbollah could pinpoint and destroy every target in Israel.

Hezbollah is “capable of striking very specific targets not only in Tel Aviv but everywhere in occupied Palestine,” he said, according to the Associated Press.