Lebanon has ordered the expulsion of Iran's ambassador, accusing him of interfering in the country's internal affairs, but Tehran has refused to comply. Iranian officials said the envoy will remain in Beirut with the backing of Hezbollah and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, deepening a political standoff as Israel intensifies military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The dispute underscores Iran's long-standing influence in Lebanon through its support for Hezbollah, which has entrenched itself politically and militarily over decades. Lebanese authorities recently moved to ban Hezbollah's military and security activities and to prohibit the presence of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, drawing praise from France. Hezbollah and its allies responded by boycotting cabinet meetings in protest of the expulsion order.

The crisis unfolds as Israel expands its ground offensive and airstrikes in southern Lebanon, displacing more than one million people and targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Israeli forces reported destroying weapons caches and anti tank missiles, while suffering several casualties. The confrontation highlights both Hezbollah's continued capabilities and the broader struggle over Iran's role in Lebanon at a moment of escalating regional conflict.