President Donald Trump has threatened to restart attacks against Iran as a fragile ceasefire struggles to take hold amid Israel’s continuing strikes on Lebanon.
The US leader said that all American military personnel would remain stationed around the region until the agreement is ‘fully complied with’.
‘If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,’ he added.
Confusion has ensued after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire agreement was reached earlier this week that Iran and Pakistan says included Lebanon but Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House say did not.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned they will deliver a ‘regret-inducing response’ if attacks on Lebanon continue.
State-run Islamic Republic News Agency also quoted an IRGC official as saying: ‘Any attack on the proud Hezbollah is an attack on Iran.’
Hundreds were killed and injured in the strikes, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence. The Israeli military told The Independent that it had completed the ‘largest strike’ on the country since the start of the conflict.
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned the escalation from Israel as ‘deeply damaging’ and called for the ceasefire to be extended to Lebanon.
