Lebanon's foreign ministry expels Iranian ambassador as relations deteriorate

Key Points:

• Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared Iran’s ambassador to Beirut persona non grata, ordering him to leave by March 29, signaling worsening relations amid tensions over Iran’s influence and Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon.
• Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRG) of directing Hezbollah’s military operations in Lebanon, including missile and drone attacks, actions Lebanon’s government opposes.
• Hezbollah and its allies strongly condemned the expulsion, calling it reckless and harmful to Lebanon’s sovereignty, while some factions praised the move as a response to Iran’s longstanding influence.
• Israel has targeted Iranian Revolutionary Guard-linked commanders in Lebanon during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which has resulted in significant casualties and heightened regional instability.
• Hezbollah, founded and heavily supported by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, remains Lebanon’s most powerful militant group, but recent conflicts have weakened its leadership and military capabilities.