The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli assessments indicate Iran is pressuring Hezbollah to join any upcoming military confrontation against Israel, unlike what happened during the “12-day war,” when the group did not directly engage in the fighting.
According to the newspaper, Tehran is seeking Hezbollah’s participation in any potential conflict, especially if the United States were to carry out military strikes against Iran.
The report added that Israel has warned Hezbollah that if it decides to intervene, “the strike this time will be very painful,” noting that the Israeli army has prepared plans to inflict “extensive damage” on the group, in light of what it described as rehabilitation steps it has taken over the past year.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Thursday that the army is on alert on the northern border for fear of escalation with Hezbollah.
The newspaper also stated that Israel is preparing for the possibility of intervention by the Houthi group and other Iranian proxies in any upcoming confrontation.
In parallel, Yedioth Ahronoth said that Iran is intensifying its efforts to increase pressure on Hezbollah, some of which are taking place “under the radar,” pointing to the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Lebanon last month, which it considered a move aimed at ensuring that the group’s fighters “will not remain neutral” in the event of a new war.
No immediate comment was issued by Hezbollah or Tehran regarding the newspaper’s report.
In June 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes deep inside Iran, targeting military and nuclear infrastructure, which triggered Iran to respond with hundreds of missiles and drones against Israeli territory.
The United States then intervened with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, marking a rare direct U.S. military action against Iranian soil. After 12 days of intense exchanges, a ceasefire was brokered on 24 June 2025, largely under U.S. diplomatic pressure, ending the immediate confrontation. During that conflict, Iran’s conventional military capabilities, especially air defenses and parts of its strategic infrastructure, were significantly degraded.
During the 12‑day conflict in June 2025, Hezbollah did not directly engage Israeli forces or open a northern front, despite Iran being under attack. The group remained largely inactive on Israel’s northern border while the confrontation unfolded, with no public operations or rocket attacks reported during the hostilities.
This contrasts with its usual proxy role in regional conflicts where Iran is directly targeted.
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