Beirut - Lebanon’s prime minister publicly accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known as the IRGC, of directing Hezbollah’s recent military actions against Israel and of involvement in drone strikes launched from Lebanon toward Cyprus. The charge has widened an already large rift between Beirut and the powerful Shia group.

What the prime minister said

Speaking to a Saudi TV channel, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the IRGC was managing Hezbollah’s operations and that some IRGC officials entered Lebanon using false passports. He also blamed the IRGC for a drone attack on a British air base in Cyprus earlier this month. Those are serious accusations that have escalated tensions between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah.

Human cost and the broader context

Since the latest escalation in early March, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people and forced roughly 1.2 million people to flee their homes, which is over 20 percent of the country’s population. Human Rights Watch has warned that the scale of displacement alone could amount to a war crime.

How analysts see the IRGC-Hezbollah relationship

Experts who follow the region say Salam’s claims are plausible even if they are hard to prove in court. The IRGC and Hezbollah have long-standing ties. Hezbollah was formed in the early 1980s with IRGC involvement, and Iran has been a main backer and political guide for the group since then.

After a ceasefire last November, Iranian officers from the IRGC reportedly visited Lebanon to assess Hezbollah and help reorganize its forces. Reported changes included moving away from a single, rigid chain of command toward smaller cells that can make quicker decisions, a model sometimes described as a mosaic defense.

The March 2 attack and who knew what

  • On March 2, Hezbollah fired six rockets across the border. The group said the strike was in response to what it described as the assassination of an Iranian figure on February 28 and to a year of Israeli actions that had killed hundreds.
  • That rocket barrage surprised many in Lebanon. Reports suggest parts of Hezbollah’s military wing - possibly acting with the IRGC’s Quds Force - carried out the operation, and that some senior political leaders may not have been fully informed in advance.

Lebanon’s government tries to push back

Beirut recently banned Hezbollah’s military activities and asked some Iranians believed to be linked to the IRGC to leave the country. The foreign minister declared Iran’s ambassador persona non grata and gave him a deadline to depart. These moves aim to limit Iranian influence, but on the ground Hezbollah remains active in the fighting, including clashes in southern Lebanon.

Analysts say the Lebanese government’s options are limited while the war is ongoing. Beirut had sought gradual disarmament during the ceasefire, but United Nations peacekeepers reported that the ceasefire was violated thousands of times. Observers argue that meaningful disarmament is unlikely while Israeli strikes continue.

Regional dynamics and next steps

Israel’s defense minister announced plans for a security zone extending north to the Litani River, which would push Israeli forces deeper into southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, there have been public claims by US envoys of talks with Iran about ending the war, but Iran denied such talks took place. Many in Lebanon worry that any diplomatic deal might not address Israel’s campaign inside Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s reply and threats

Hezbollah’s political figures have responded angrily to the government’s moves. One deputy head compared the government to a wartime collaborator, a comment that drew criticism and later clarification. Former commanders have warned the government that the party will not accept the ban on its military activities and said it would push to reverse the decision after the fighting ends, by whatever means they choose.

The bottom line - Accusations that the IRGC is directing Hezbollah have amplified political friction in Lebanon. The historical ties between the two are real, and experts say Tehran’s influence likely helped prepare Hezbollah for a renewed role in the conflict. For now, Beirut’s ability to act is constrained by ongoing violence and the complex regional chessboard.