Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply criticised Lebanon on Monday, asserting that the country is effectively under Iranian control and failing to curb Hezbollah’s influence. Posting on X, Sa’ar accused Beirut of ignoring its own decision to expel Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shiba, even after the March 29 deadline had passed.

He highlighted that although the Lebanese Foreign Ministry had declared Shiba “persona non grata,” the diplomat remained in Beirut. Sa’ar also noted that Hezbollah ministers continue to hold positions in the Lebanese government, calling Lebanon “a virtual state that is, in practice, occupied by Iran” and describing the situation as a “visible occupation that hardly anyone speaks about.”

Sa’ar further accused Hezbollah of violating the November 2024 ceasefire by launching 5,000 missiles, rockets, and drones at Israel since March 2. Many of these projectiles were reportedly fired from areas south of the Litani River, which the Lebanese army had previously claimed to control. He urged Lebanon to take decisive action against Iran and its proxy, stating that the country “will not regain its freedom until a decision is made in Beirut to confront the Iranian occupation and Hezbollah.”

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi announced that the government had withdrawn its approval for Shiba as ambassador, declared him persona non grata, and ordered him to leave by March 29. Raggi instructed the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry to notify the Iranian Charge d’Affaires of the decision. Sa’ar welcomed the step, describing it as “justified” and urging further measures to counter Iran’s indirect influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah.