Report: Hizbullah Drone Unlikely To Trigger War with Israel

Turkish authorities have no concerns that the reconnaissance drone sent by Hizbullah into Israel's airspace early in October would trigger a war between the two countries, As Safir daily reported Saturday.

Unnamed Turkish sources said it is unlikely for similar incidents to trigger war between Israel and Lebanon because “neither Israel or Hizbullah nor any international party finds an interest in war currently. Similar incidents should be isolated in order to maintain stability.”

On the thorny Syrian crisis, the daily said quoting Tukish circles, that it is unlikely for the conflict to fan out to neighboring countries, mainly Lebanon and Jordan, despite the reconnaissance drone launched by Hizbullah.

“The incidents in Syria so far show that the crisis will remain confined within the Syrian border,” they said.

“There are no clues that it will spread out into Lebanon. The Lebanese army is on alert to prevent any deterioration in the situation, and similarly in Jordan. Moreover the international community will find no interest in the dissemination of this conflict,” reported the daily.

“Turkey denounces any action that could incite tension in the region,” the sources added commenting on Hizbullah's drone.

“Turkey hopes that the situation remains under control within the framework of U.N. resolution 1701 in order to preserve the stability on the border between Lebanon and Israel,” they stressed.

Moreover, Turkish authorities are concerned with the spiking number of Syrian refugees, that exceeded 80,000 on its territories as the winter season approaches and its decision to keep the border with Syria open.

Lebanon on the other hand hosts a similar number, but “the government of Prime Minister Najib Miqati achieved a fair balance between the policy of dissociation on the one hand and aiding the refugees on the other,” they added.

On the issue of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims who were kidnapped in Syria shortly after crossing Turkey in May, informed Turkish sources said: “Turkey has been criticized on that particular issue mainly by the Shiite community.”

“We would like to assure that our efforts are strenuous to free the Lebanese captives, but the issue is highly sensitive, but we hope to culminate our efforts with positive results,” they said, assuring that the abductees are living in good conditions.