Lebanon's top diplomat urges Iran, Hezbollah to avoid retaliation

DPA:  Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Tuesday said he hopes that a retaliatory strike by Iran and its allies for the killing of two major Israeli opponents can still be prevented.

"We hope that there will be no retaliation," said Bou Habib during a visit to Cairo. "If there has to be one, it should not be a collective or strong response that would lead to a major war."

Bou Habib said his government was trying to prevent Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia from dramatically escalating tensions.

But Bou Habib's ability to restrain Hezbollah and Iran is limited.

Lebanon has been in deep dysfunction for years and without a president since late 2022. The government is only in office in a caretaker capacity as the country's political elite continues to quarrel.

The Hezbollah militia has huge influence on politics and the daily lives of the Lebanese population, acting like a state within a state.