Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is increasingly concerned that Hezbollah could drag Lebanon into another devastating war with Israel, despite assurances from the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that it will remain out of any renewed confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

According to a report published Sunday by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Aoun fears Hezbollah could once again reverse its position and join the fighting if tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate into a military confrontation.

The concerns stem from Hezbollah’s conduct earlier this year, when the organization initially promised to remain neutral before joining the fighting following the elimination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly warned Aoun during a telephone conversation that Hezbollah’s involvement in another conflict would have “devastating consequences.”

The warnings come as negotiations between Israel and Lebanon remain stalled over arrangements to ensure that areas of southern Lebanon remain free of weapons.

Israel has proposed allowing independent organizations to monitor the disarmament process, while Lebanon wants the responsibility assigned to United Nations observers. Neither side has accepted the other’s proposal.

A senior Lebanese official claimed that the Lebanese military has carried out more than 1,200 operations to remove weapons and ammunition in the village of Zutar al-Gharbiya alone, while accusing Israel of failing to fulfill its obligations.

Aoun has also instructed the Lebanese military not to maintain direct contact with the IDF while Israeli forces remain on Lebanese territory.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah officials believe President Donald Trump will return to negotiations with Iran following Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections rather than launch another military operation.

Hezbollah parliament member Hassan Ezzedine told the Al-Mayadeen network that if Washington intended to launch a war, it would have done so before the elections.

Ezzedine also claimed that American interests no longer fully align with those of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and that Israel’s recent election results have widened the differences between Washington and Yerushalayim.

Despite Hezbollah’s assurances, Lebanese officials remain deeply concerned that another confrontation involving Iran could once again bring widespread destruction to southern Lebanon.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)