Hezbollah attempts drone attacks on Israeli oil fields in Mediterranean Sea

Jerusalem: Lebanon government has been preparing to resolve the dispute regarding the oil deposits in the Mediterranean Sea through negotiations and mediation by the international community. However, Hezbollah’s actions have escalated the issue causing further tensions. Hezbollah sent three drones to the Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel security agencies which were already on alert, shot down all the three Hezbollah drones. Israel used the F-16 fighter jets and Barak-8 missiles for this purpose. Meanwhile, local analysts claimed that Hezbollah has given Israel a signal of aggression and warning by sending these drones.

Karish is a gas-rich field with a reserve of 1.7 trillion cubic feet of gas located about 90 kilometres in the Mediterranean Sea from Haifa city of Israel. Israel and Lebanon both stake their claim on the gas deposits as both countries claim the reserves to be within their marine borders. Israel has even signed an agreement with a British company for gas exploration and extraction in the Karish region. Last month, a British ship entered the Karish sector for gas exploration. After that, Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah from Lebanon, threatened Israel that they have multiple options to stop Israel from stealing the Lebanese fuel reserves and warned that Israel would have to face unprecedented losses in their pursuit.

Within just a month, Hezbollah sent three drones to the Karish sector. As per information shared by the Israeli security agency, Hezbollah had sent these drones for surveillance. Action was taken against the drones even before they could enter their airspace. One of the drones was destroyed by an Israeli F-16 fighter jet. An Israeli destroyer deployed in the Mediterranean Sea fired two Barak-8 missiles to shoot down the other drones.

Hezbollah tried to challenge Israel by attempting to enter the Karish fuel field. But the Israeli military spokesman announced that the Israeli army, navy and air force are prepared to face any challenge Hezbollah poses. Hezbollah, who has been threatening Israel, is expected to react to this.

Meanwhile, Israel had said that Hezbollah has a vast stockpile of missiles. Israel had reminded the international community that Hezbollah could launch thousands of missiles daily on Israel. Israel has also declared that it was prepared for a war against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah chief Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, had a meeting last week. Israeli media is pointing out that Hezbollah sent the drones only after this meeting. Therefore, the Israeli media is predicting the possibility that Hezbollah and Hamas are jointly hatching a major conspiracy against Israel.