Iran Pledges Unwavering Support For Lebanon As US Pushes For Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah

Tehran: A top Iranian official expressed his country's stefast support for Lebanon following discussions with Lebanese leers on ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. 

talks took place on Friday, as United States continued its efforts to broker a new ceasefire agreement between two sides. 

Ali Larijani, an visor to Iran's Supreme Leer, Ali Khamenei, expressed hope that situation in Lebanon would soon improve, allowing displaced people to return to ir homes.

‘Iran Will Stand By Lebanon’s Government’

“ main aim of our visit is to loudly say that we will stand by Lebanon’s government and people,” Larijani told reporters after separate meetings with parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

US Pushing For Ceasefire Deal, Wants De-Escalation In Region

United States has been working to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, following escalation of 13-month Israel-Hamas war, which expanded in September to include sourn and eastern Lebanon, as well as sourn suburbs of Beirut. Both Hezbollah and Hamas receive support from Iran. 

Hezbollah began launching rockets into norrn Israel day after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked war in Gaza.

78 Killed In Fresh Israeli Airstrikes

Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that Israeli airstrikes across multiple regions in Lebanon have caused 78 fatalities and injured 122 ors in past 24 hours.

In sourn regions of Saida and Tyre, strikes resulted in highest casualties, with 39 de and 69 injured. Mount Lebanon also faced heavy losses, with 24 deaths and 17 injured. In Nabatiyeh, 13 people lost ir lives, and 25 were injured. Baalbeck-Hermel Province in norast reported two fatalities and 11 injuries.

According to Lebanese National News Agency, overall death toll since beginning of aggression has reached 3,365, with 14,344 people injured.

(With inputs from AP)