Iran FM: Opening of Lebanese-Israeli Front in Hezbollah’s Hands

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a press conference in Beirut. (AFP)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a press conference in Beirut. (AFP)
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Iran FM: Opening of Lebanese-Israeli Front in Hezbollah’s Hands

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a press conference in Beirut. (AFP)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a press conference in Beirut. (AFP)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the opening of the Lebanese-Israeli front, in the event of continued Israeli aggression, was in the hands of Hezbollah.

Despite his assertion that Lebanon’s security is “important to everyone and to Iran,” the Iranian official warned that “it was possible to imagine the opening of a new front in a way that suits the circumstances.”

Speaking on Saturday during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Abdollahian said: “During my meetings with some of the leaders of the resistance in Beirut, I found that the resistance is in a very excellent situation and is fully prepared to respond to the criminal actions of the Zionist entity.”

He added: “The resistance has the energy and high capabilities to respond to the war crimes of the Zionist entity and the continued siege of Gaza.”

According to the FM, a political opportunity is available to prevent the war from expanding, but he warned: “Perhaps, in the coming hours, it will be too late.”

In light of the high number of casualties in Gaza, Abdollahian announced that his country “proposed holding an urgent meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” stressing that Lebanon’s “security is important for everyone and for Iran.”

Iran’s top diplomat spoke about an agreement between his country and Saudi Arabia over the war on Gaza.

“A few days ago, a telephone call was held for the first time between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These discussions took place in light of the new atmosphere of good relations between Tehran and Riyadh,” Abdollahian told reporters in Beirut.

He stressed that the two sides “agree to support Palestine and condemn the war crimes committed by the Zionist entity,” adding: “The majority of leaders of the countries of the region and Arab states currently agree that Al-Aqsa Storm operations came as a spontaneous response to some of the crimes and extremism committed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Experts, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, noted that Abdollahian’s strong rhetoric contradicted the facts on the ground.

Dr. Riad Kahwaji, CEO of the Near East and Gulf Foundation for Military Analysis (INEGMA), said the situation in South Lebanon is limited to clashes and operations, stressing that both parties did not want a major escalation on the front.

He noted that Hezbollah sought to “keep Israel on alert over the possibility of opening the northern front, which has made it mobilize half of its army in the north instead of deploying it on the front with Gaza.”



UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)

The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.

The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.

Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the UN. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told the Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza.

Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.

Israel has said Gaza has enough supplies after a surge of aid entered during the ceasefire and accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the UN strictly monitors distribution. They say the aid flow during the ceasefire was barely enough to cover the immense needs from throughout the war when only a trickle of supplies got in.

With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables. Prices for what remains have risen dramatically, becoming unaffordable for much of the population. Most families rely heavily on canned goods.

Malnutrition is already surging. The UN said it identified 3,700 children suffering from acute malnutrition in March, up 80% from the month before. At the same time, because of diminishing supplies, aid groups were only able to provide nutritional supplements to some 22,000 children in March, down 70% from February. The supplements are a crucial tool for averting malnutrition.

Almost all bakeries shut down weeks ago and the WFP stopped distribution of food basics to families for lack of supplies. With stocks of most ingredients depleted, charity kitchens generally can only serve meals of pasta or rice with little added.

World Central Kitchen -- a US charity that is one of the biggest in Gaza that doesn’t rely on the WFP -- said Thursday that its kitchens had run out of proteins. Instead, they make stews from canned vegetables. Because fuel is scarce, it dismantles wooden shipping pallets to burn in its stoves, it said. It also runs the only bakery still functioning in Gaza, producing 87,000 loaves of pita a day.

The WFP said 116,000 tons of food is ready to be brought into Gaza if Israel opens the borders, enough to feed 1 million people for four months.

Israel has leveled much of Gaza with its air and ground campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. It has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

In the Oct. 7 attack, gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. They still hold 59 hostages after most were released in ceasefire deals.