Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), described resistance as a "great asset" for the region and the Islamic world, during a visit to the country where he also met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to Iranian media.

No group in Lebanon is permitted to bear arms or rely on foreign backing, its president told a visiting senior Iranian official on Wednesday after the cabinet approved the goals of a U.S.-backed roadmap to disarm the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group.

Hezbollah fighter Mohammed Ayyad has not been seen in more than a year, but Government and diplomat sources suspect he has fled Lebanon for Iran

Critics fear a U.N. Security Council resolution authored by France could leave a current system in place in southern Lebanon despite years of failures to curb Hezbollah.

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, was involved in a deadly shooting at Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture on July 27. Despite the support for Iran-backed militias from many Shiite politicians, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al Sudani announced the results of an investigation that found the militia responsible for the incident and recommended consequences.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected Wednesday "any interference" in his country's internal affairs, including the carrying of weapons by any groups.

Hezbollah raised the spectre of civil war with a warning on Friday there would be "no life" in Lebanon if the government sought to confront or eliminate the Iran-backed group.

Airstrikes come as Hezbollah threatens civil war if Lebanon tries to disarm it; Lebanese PM says threats unacceptable, Beirut will do whatever is necessary for peace and stability