From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 2, 2022
Gantz after IDF downs Hezbollah drones: ‘Israel will defend its infrastructure from any threat’
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Defense Minister Benny Gantz is set to hold an assessment with top security officials after Hezbollah drones were shot down en route to the Karish gas field in Israel’s territorial waters.
“The State of Israel is prepared to defend its infrastructure in the face of any threat,” Gantz says in a statement.
“The Hezbollah terrorist organization undermines the Lebanese state’s ability to reach an agreement on the maritime border that is essential to Lebanon’s economy and citizens,” he says.
“Israel will continue to protect its assets, and considers itself obligated and entitled to act and respond in the face of any attempt to harm it,” Gantz says.
The Israel Defenses Forces says it successfully intercepted three drones flown by the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group, heading for the Karish gas field in Israel’s territorial waters.
Israel says the drilling platform is in part of its UN-recognized exclusive economic zone, but Beirut insists it is in a disputed area.
Lebanon and Israel — which have no diplomatic relations and consider each other enemy states — have been holding indirect talks brokered by the US for close to two years to resolve a maritime border dispute.
The Times of Israel Community.