TEHRAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military struck a Hezbollah headquarters on Sunday in the Dahieh district, south of Beirut, triggering warnings of retaliation from Iran and casting new uncertainty over an emerging U.S.-Iran deal.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that Hezbollah militants used the headquarters to promote "terrorist" attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the attack followed Hezbollah firing into Israeli territory, adding that "Israel will not tolerate firing into its territory."
Lebanon's National News Agency said the Israeli attack killed at least three people and injured 15 others.
The attack came after Israel carried out strikes in southern Lebanon earlier this month, prompting Iran to launch missile attacks against Israel and triggering the most serious escalation between the two sides since the ceasefire reached in April.
On Monday, Iran warned that any further Israeli "aggression and malicious acts," including in southern Lebanon, would trigger a much more "severe and crushing" response from Tehran.
Following the fresh Israeli attack on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on social media platform X that Israel's new "aggression" against Beirut once again demonstrated that the United States lacks either the will or the ability to fulfil its commitments.
"The bad cop and good cop game has become outdated. If you lack the will and ability to fulfill your commitments, speaking of continuing the path is not possible," Ghalibaf added.
Reacting to the Israeli attack in an interview with Iran's Defa Press news agency, Mohammad-Jafar Asadi, deputy inspector of the country's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said, "undoubtedly, these crimes will not go unanswered."
In a later statement, the IDF said it is preparing for possible fire into Israel within hours. The IDF remains on high alert, ready for both defensive and offensive scenarios, it added.
The developments occur as Iran and the United States are reportedly very close to signing a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU), while Tehran insists the agreement must bring an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday night that the signing of a MoU with the United States to end the war could take place within the next few days.
U.S. President Donald Trump also said Thursday that the United States had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," with an agreement expected "over the next few days."
Israel's strike on Beirut has cast a shadow over the potential agreement.
"This morning's attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran," said Trump.
"We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down," the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social.■
