Iran warns US of forceful response to Israeli strike on Hezbollah-held ridge in south Lebanon

Iran has privately warned the US that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are embedded with Hezbollah fighters. The message, delivered last month, underscores Iran's direct role in ground fighting and signals escalation risk as the regional war enters its seventh month. The warning is a diplomatic signal aimed at deterring Israeli action, but its credibility and the likelihood of Israeli restraint remain uncertain.