Iran embassy in Lebanon warns Israel strikes ‘change the rules of the game’

The Iranian embassy in Lebanon condemned a series of intense Israeli strikes on what Israel said was the densely-packed Hezbollah stronghold of Beirut’s southern suburbs Friday, warning of a “dangerous escalation” in the Middle East.

“This reprehensible crime… represents a dangerous escalation that changes the rules of the game,” the Iranian embassy said in a post on X, adding that Israel “will receive the appropriate punishment.”

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the strike was a “war crime” for which both Israel and the United States should be held accountable, state media reported.

“This barbaric attack, which was carried out with bombs donated by the US regime to the rogue Zionist regime … is a clear and undeniable war crime. Therefore, the American regime is also an accomplice along with the Zionist regime and must be held accountable,” Kanaani said, according to state media.