Report: Israel warns Hezbollah it will respond if gas rigs attacked

Officials in Israeli’s security establishment have sent “clear messages” to Lebanon through the Americans, saying that if Hezbollah “does not restrain itself,” the Israeli army will “respond to any breach of calm and will not be satisfied with just intercepting drones,” Israeli news website ‘Walla’ has reported.

The Israeli security officials also explained that Washington is pinning major hopes on the negotiations on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon to “prevent a security escalation” and to “show the Arab countries that the United States has influence in the region.”

At the same time, the Israeli army “continues to strengthen the defense systems around the Karish rigs, with the help of placing special sensors that will warn against hostile actions,” Walla said.

According to Israeli army sources, if the Americans fail to reach a compromise before the gas rig begins pumping in September, there will be a situational assessment in the defense establishment in which they will consider raising the alert level on the northern front.

According to the sources, the United States will push for a compromise and it is possible that a decision on the matter will be made as early as this week. “In addition, the Lebanese government's agreement to a compromise will oblige Hezbollah not to act against the decision,” the sources said.