ANKARA

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israel for its deployment of fighter jets over the Lebanese capital Beirut at a low altitude during the funeral ceremony of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday, describing it as "an act of terror."

Araghchi was part of a top Iranian delegation that attended the funeral of Nasrallah and senior member Hashem Safieddine along with thousands of mourners.

"I also witnessed, with my own eyes, the violation of Lebanon's sovereignty by Israeli jets that flew close above our heads, in a pitiful attempt to terrify people who gathered only to mourn," Araghchi wrote on his X account.

"If that is not an act of terror, then what is?”

"The violation only emboldened people in the stadium to shout against Israel even stronger and louder. Israelis never learn their lesson," he added.

Nasrallah was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Sept. 27, 2024. Safieddine was killed in a similar airstrike on Oct. 3.

A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply.

The Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanese towns last week but maintained a military presence at five border outposts.