Hossein Yekta, a senior official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), visited Lebanon earlier this month to strengthen Hezbollah’s ideological commitment and support base, according to a report by Israel’s Alma Research and Education Center.

Yekta arrived in Beirut on Oct. 1 as part of an Iranian delegation that included Shiite cleric Alireza Panahian, media figures and other public personalities, the report said. The delegation reportedly visited families of Hezbollah members killed in combat and sought to reinforce ties between Iran and the Lebanese armed group.

The report said Yekta met senior Hezbollah political and military figures and conveyed Iranian directives aimed at reviving the “unity of fronts” strategy, which seeks to coordinate Iran-backed groups across the region.

Citing Iraqi security sources, the report said Iran’s Quds Force was seeking mutual military commitments among its allies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen ahead of a possible renewed confrontation with Israel and the United States. It was not clear whether the groups had agreed to those commitments.

Yekta is known for his role in recruitment and ideological activities linked to the IRGC. He has held positions in several Iranian cultural organizations and worked to promote the ideology of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

The European Union sanctioned Yekta on March 16, 2026, citing his senior role in the IRGC, his involvement in recruitment and ideological indoctrination, and his alleged responsibility for serious human rights violations in Iran.

During his visit to Lebanon, Yekta appeared in a video washing his hands and face in the Litani River in southern Lebanon before prayer. He spoke of the prospect of praying in Jerusalem, invoking former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and addressing young people associated with the resistance movement.

The footage drew criticism in Lebanon, with opponents of Hezbollah questioning the presence of a senior Iranian military official on Lebanese soil.

The visit also raised questions about Lebanon’s sovereignty, particularly after the government announced measures on March 5, 2026, to prevent IRGC members from conducting security or military activities in the country. The measures included seeking the arrest and expulsion of IRGC members and reinstating visa requirements for Iranian nationals.

The Alma report said it was unclear whether Yekta had entered Lebanon with a visa or without authorization.

Yekta has previously expressed support for Hezbollah. In October 2024, he attended a ceremony in Tehran where Iranian women donated gold to support Lebanon and the group, describing the contributions as a religious duty.

He also visited Lebanon in January 2026, posting a video from Beirut’s southern suburbs celebrating what he described as a victory for the resistance movement.

While the report links Yekta’s latest visit to efforts to reinforce Hezbollah’s ideological and social foundations, it does not establish that he is directly involved in the group’s military command or that the reported regional military commitments have been finalized.