BEIRUT

Lebanon’s government decided on Thursday to pursue and arrest any members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the country for deportation.

Information Minister Paul Morcos told a press conference that the Cabinet requested the relevant ministries and administrations to issue instructions to verify whether IRGC members are present in Lebanon.

He added that authorities were ordered “to intervene firmly and immediately to prevent any security or military activity they might carry out from Lebanese territory, regardless of their status or the cover under which they operate, and to arrest them under the supervision of the competent judiciary in preparation for deportation.”

Morcos also said the Cabinet decided to reinstate visa requirements for Iranian nationals entering Lebanon as part of efforts to control the borders and “prevent any activity that could undermine security or use Lebanese territory to carry out special objectives.”

Morcos added that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to recent accusations against the government, claiming that the Lebanese government "aligns with Israeli demands and implements Israeli decisions."

"Such statements cannot be tolerated," he said.

The one committing a "grave mistake" is those who “dragged Lebanon into consequences we could have avoided," Morcos quoted Salam as saying.

There was no immediate comment from Iran on the Lebanese move.

On Monday, the regional escalation expanded to Lebanon as Israel and the US have continued a large-scale attack on Iran since Saturday, killing over 900 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries, which are home to US assets.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel