Israel must withdraw from Lebanon today or be forced to retreat in defeat tomorrow, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds force commander Esmail Qaani threatened on Thursday.
"You Zionists must leave all of Lebanon. This land is the arena of resistance and steadfastness, not a playground for occupiers," he demanded in a social media post.
European countries also came under threat from an Iranian official on Thursday, when Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi blamed Italy and Romania for allowing the United States to use their air bases in its attacks on Iran.
"The statements of the NATO Secretary General regarding the use by the United States of Italian and Romanian bases in an attack on Iran give rise to the international responsibility of these countries," Gharibabadi stated on X/Twitter.
"According to General Assembly Resolution 3314, the provision of territory by a state for use by a third state to carry out aggression against another country is considered an act of aggression."
Italy denies NATO chief's claim on Iran attacks
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking to Fox News television, cited Italy as an example of European support for the US and said 500 US planes had taken off from US bases in Italy "to support Epic Fury," Washington's name for the war it launched alongside Israel.
On Wednesday, Italy pushed back against Rutte's remarks, saying that Rome had authorized only technical and logistical flights.
Italy hosts about 120 US military facilities, including the Sigonella naval air station in Sicily and the Aviano air base in northern Italy.
The remarks caused a political row in Italy, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has repeatedly said it did not authorize the use of Italian territory for direct military action against Iran.
In a statement, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Italy had acted in full compliance with its constitution, international treaties, and agreements governing allied bases on its soil.
"As already clarified in parliament, the government authorized exclusively technical and logistical, non-kinetic activities," Crosetto said, adding that Italy had refused requests that fell outside those limits.
Crosetto expressed surprise that Rutte, who "has nothing to do with Operation Epic Fury," had given an account that conveyed a "totally misleading message" by confusing authorized support flights with combat-related operations.
In response to a request for comment, a NATO official said Rutte had only "highlighted how Allies, including Italy, carried out their existing bilateral agreements in the context of basing and overflights."
Opposition leaders demand explanation from Italian government
Opposition leaders in Italy seized on Rutte's comments, demanding fresh explanations from the government.
