Iran Quds Force Chief Threatens Israel: Leave Lebanon or Face Defeat

The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force delivered a stark ultimatum to Israel on Thursday, demanding an immediate and complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory while warning that Israeli forces face inevitable expulsion "in shame, humiliation, and crushing defeat" if they refuse to leave voluntarily.

Qaani, who heads the IRGC's elite external operations unit responsible for managing Tehran's regional proxy networks, issued the threat in remarks carried prominently by Iranian state media. His statement marks one of the most direct public warnings from a senior Iranian military official since the escalation of fighting in southern Lebanon.

"Israel must withdraw from Lebanon immediately," Qaani declared in the address. "Lebanon is a field of steadfast resistance, not a playground for occupiers." The Quds Force commander warned that if Israeli forces do not choose to retreat on their own terms now, they will soon be forced out under military pressure and will flee the region "in shame, in humiliation, and in crushing defeat."

The remarks from Qaani carry particular weight given his position as the operational architect of Iran's regional influence. The Quds Force serves as Tehran's primary instrument for arming, funding, and directing militia groups across the Middle East, with Hezbollah in Lebanon representing its most powerful and sophisticated proxy force. Qaani has commanded the unit since January 2020, when his predecessor Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Qaani's public intervention comes after months of conspicuous absence from the spotlight. The Quds Force chief has largely disappeared from public view since the outbreak of the current conflict, communicating primarily through written statements and social media posts rather than public appearances. In previous messages to Hezbollah operatives, he praised what he termed their "exceptional efforts" and urged them to remain "vigilant and ready."

Conflicting Signals on Israeli Positions

The Iranian threat arrives against a backdrop of sharply contradictory reports regarding Israeli military movements in southern Lebanon. Reuters reported Thursday that a senior American official stated Israel had begun withdrawing from portions of the security zone and was permitting the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy in vacated areas, describing the move as a goodwill gesture ahead of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Washington.

Israeli security officials immediately and categorically denied the claim. A senior Israeli security source told Hebrew media that "the IDF has not withdrawn from anywhere" and emphasized that military commanders had received no instructions from the political leadership regarding any pullback. The Lebanese army similarly denied that its forces had deployed to replace Israeli troops in any location.

Soldiers in the Lebanese Army (Photo: Shutterstock )

The discrepancy between the American account and Israeli denials has raised questions about whether Washington may be attempting to apply public pressure on Jerusalem ahead of ongoing diplomatic talks. U.S.-mediated negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese representatives are currently underway in Washington, with discussions reportedly focused on the terms and timeline for an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the security buffer zone established during recent operations.

According to emerging frameworks under discussion, Israel would execute a phased withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for security guarantees and the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces units to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing positions near the border. Israeli officials have insisted that any withdrawal must be contingent on verifiable disarmament of Hezbollah forces and robust enforcement mechanisms.

Diplomatic efforts continue in Washington.