JERUSALEM, aEUR” On Saturday, the Israeli military said that it had shot down three unmanned aircraft of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. They were heading towards an area where an Israeli gas platform has been installed recently in the Mediterranean Sea.
Hezbollah appeared to have launched the aircraft to try to influence U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon about their maritime border. This area is rich in natural gases.
The Israeli stated that the aircraft had been spotted very early and didn’t pose any imminent threat. Yair Lapid, Israel’s interim prime minister, issued a strong warning about the incident.
Lapid’s first address to the nation since assuming office Friday was “I stand before and say to all who seek our demise, Gaza to Tehran, the shores Lebanon to Syria” “Israel is able to use its power against any threat and against every enemy.
Israel set up an Israeli gas rig earlier this month in the Karish field. Israel claims that it lies within its internationally recognized economic waters. Lebanon claims it is in disputed water.
Hezbollah released a brief statement, in which it confirmed that three drones had been launched unarmed towards the maritime dispute over the Karish field as part of a reconnaissance mission. It stated that the mission had been completed and that the message had been received.
Hezbollah and Israel are bitter enemies. They fought a long war that lasted a month in the summer 2006. Israel regards the Iranian-backed Lebanese organization as its greatest immediate threat. It estimates that it has approximately 150,000 missiles and rockets aimed at Israel.
Last week, the U.S. stated that Amos Hochstein, mediator, had spoken with both the Israeli and Lebanese sides. “The exchanges were productive, and they helped to narrow the differences between the sides. His office stated last week that the United States would continue to engage with parties in the coming days and weeks.
Officially at war since 1948’s creation of Israel, the two countries claim 860 km (330 miles) of the Mediterranean Sea. As it struggles with its worst economic crisis, Lebanon plans to explore offshore gas resources.
Najib Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, told reporters on Saturday that Lebanon had received “encouraging” information regarding the border dispute. However, he refused to comment further and said Beirut was waiting for the “written formal response to the suggestions made by the Lebanese.”
