Beirut: Israel and Lebanon have been embroiled in a dispute over the Mediterranean Sea, rich in natural gas. Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group, threatened that if Israel invades Lebanese territorial waters and explores for fuel, it will face a strong retaliation. They further stated that they do not care if this leads to a war on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Meanwhile, tensions are already high on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Two days ago, Lebanese soldiers were reported to be infiltrating the Israeli border.

Advertisement

Moreover, it is situated about 90 kilometres from the Israeli city of Haifa, in the Mediterranean Sea, Karish is a rich gas field. Karish, which is adjacent to the Israeli oil fields Leviathan and Tamar, is claimed to have more than 300 million barrels of gas. London-based Engin, a leader in the extraction and storage of fuel gas, had signed an agreement with Israel Electric Company in Israel to develop Karish in March. According to that, the Israeli company will soon start extracting gas from the Karish area.

But Lebanon claims that the Karish region is within its borders. Israel has also warned that no one else should start drilling in the region without permission. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has warned that Israel’s actions in the disputed area are provocative and aggressive. The Lebanese President had warned Israel to be prepared for serious consequences. The Lebanese President has also called for US mediation in the disputed maritime issue.

Hezbollah threatened Israel shortly after the Lebanese President’s warning. Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Sheikh Naeem Qasim, announced that Hezbollah would respond to Israeli incursions into Lebanon’s maritime borders if ordered by President Aoun. Sheikh Qasim claimed that the Israeli incursion into the Lebanese fuel sector would be answered using military force. Hezbollah leader threatened that it would not care even if a new conflict flared up on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Meanwhile, US and Israeli analysts have previously expressed concern that the activities of Iran-linked Hezbollah could escalate into a conflict between Israel and Lebanon soon. There were also reports that Israel was preparing for a war against Hezbollah. Last week, the Israeli army conducted a special war exercise in Cyprus to fight the Hezbollah.

Advertisement

Related posts:

Israel prepares for war against Hezbollah at Lebanese border ‘We attacked because Iran crossed the ‘Red Line,’ claims Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu If Israel crosses “Red Line”, next attack will be on its heart, threatens Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah A decisive war with Israel is getting closer, warns Hezbollah chief Nasrallah Iran, Syria and Hezbollah will attack Israel, a threat by Hezbollah chief Iran is arming Hezbollah through the marine route, Israel accuses in the UN meeting Iran affiliated groups reach the Israel border, claims a senior Iranian military official Israeli attacks on Lebanon will continue, unless the Hezbollah missile factory is shut down, warns the US State Secretary