Israeli military orders extra forces to Lebanon border area

Israel’s military ordered extra forces to deploy to its northern command and postponed a training exercise as tensions remained high with Lebanon’s heavily armed Shi’ite movement Hezbollah.

The army said that over the past week its “ground forces, air, navy and intelligence forces improved their preparedness for various scenarios in the northern command area.”

Israel and Hezbollah, which last fought a war in 2006, are on high alert after drones were used on Sunday to attack what a security official in the region described as a target linked to precision-guided missile projects.

Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the rare strike in Beirut and said it will retaliate. The heavily armed Shi’ite movement has denied harbouring such missile facilities. Lebanon has accused Israel of seeking pretexts for aggression.

Hezbollah has enough precision-guided missiles in Lebanon for any confrontation with Israel, the Iran-backed movement’s leader said on Saturday, denying Israeli claims that the group harbours facilities to build the weapons.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said drones like the ones used in an attack in Beirut’s suburbs, which he blames on Israel, open the door to assassinations if left unanswered. “This matter will not be tolerated … Israel must pay the price” he added.

 

Via Reuters/ Jerusalem Post