1 sept 2019
Still image from a video of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking to reporters upon arrival in Moscow on September 1, 2019
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is in the Russian capital of Moscow for high-level talks on a wide range of issues, including the recent Israeli assaults on regional countries.
"In addition to bilateral talks on bilateral cooperation, we will hold talks [with Russians] on regional issues" such as the Israeli regime's recent assaults against regional states, Zarif told reporters upon arrival in Moscow on Sunday.
He made the comments amid escalation of tension along the occupied territories' borders with Lebanon, after the Hezbollah resistance movement attacked Israel’s military vehicles earlier in the day, leaving a number of Israeli forces dead or injured.
The Israeli artillery units also struck the southern part of Lebanon shortly after an Israeli drone violated the Lebanese airspace, and dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
In his Sunday comments, Zarif highlighted other subjects to be discussed during his Monday talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"We are on the verge of the Astana talks in Turkey, and there is a need for coordination. We also need coordination on the Yemen issue."
He said the "serious developments in Afghanistan" will also be on the agenda of his Monday talks.
"Iran's special envoys for Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria in the delegation visiting Russia, and will hold talks with their counterparts," Zarif added.
The top diplomat said he will also brief the Russian "friends" on the latest developments regarding the Iran nuclear deal, particularly the recent talks held in France.
"We have common stances on the JCPOA with Russia and China and many other global developments," he said.
The talks on the 2015 nuclear deal will come as Iran has given other parties to the deal, especially Europe, until Thursday to fulfill their commitments under the accord; otherwise Iran will take the third step of reducing its obligations.
Tehran rowed back on its nuclear commitments twice in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA.
Tehran says its reciprocal measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian economy from unilateral US sanctions which were imposed last year when President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal.
The Europeans have already missed a 60 day-deadline set by Tehran, prompting Iran to go for the second phase of cutting its commitments on July 7, which marked the start of a second such deadline for them.
As a first step Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile to beyond the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA.
In the second step, Tehran began enriching uranium to purity rates beyond the JCPOA limit of 3.76 percent.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is in the Russian capital of Moscow for high-level talks on a wide range of issues, including the recent Israeli assaults on regional countries.
"In addition to bilateral talks on bilateral cooperation, we will hold talks [with Russians] on regional issues" such as the Israeli regime's recent assaults against regional states, Zarif told reporters upon arrival in Moscow on Sunday.
He made the comments amid escalation of tension along the occupied territories' borders with Lebanon, after the Hezbollah resistance movement attacked Israel’s military vehicles earlier in the day, leaving a number of Israeli forces dead or injured.
The Israeli artillery units also struck the southern part of Lebanon shortly after an Israeli drone violated the Lebanese airspace, and dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
In his Sunday comments, Zarif highlighted other subjects to be discussed during his Monday talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"We are on the verge of the Astana talks in Turkey, and there is a need for coordination. We also need coordination on the Yemen issue."
He said the "serious developments in Afghanistan" will also be on the agenda of his Monday talks.
"Iran's special envoys for Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria in the delegation visiting Russia, and will hold talks with their counterparts," Zarif added.
The top diplomat said he will also brief the Russian "friends" on the latest developments regarding the Iran nuclear deal, particularly the recent talks held in France.
"We have common stances on the JCPOA with Russia and China and many other global developments," he said.
The talks on the 2015 nuclear deal will come as Iran has given other parties to the deal, especially Europe, until Thursday to fulfill their commitments under the accord; otherwise Iran will take the third step of reducing its obligations.
Tehran rowed back on its nuclear commitments twice in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA.
Tehran says its reciprocal measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian economy from unilateral US sanctions which were imposed last year when President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal.
The Europeans have already missed a 60 day-deadline set by Tehran, prompting Iran to go for the second phase of cutting its commitments on July 7, which marked the start of a second such deadline for them.
As a first step Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile to beyond the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA.
In the second step, Tehran began enriching uranium to purity rates beyond the JCPOA limit of 3.76 percent.
Smoke from IDF shellings in Lebanon
Hezbollah vowed to avenge the deaths of two operatives it says were killed in an Israeli strike in Syria last week and Israeli forces have been on high alert in expectation of an attack from the Iranian-backed terror group
Israeli communities along the Lebanon border were told Sunday to return to their routines after exchanges of fire between Israel and the Lebanese based Hezbollah terror group, ended.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenting on anti-tank missile fire towards an IDF base on the border, said his country responded by launching approximately 100 artillery shells at the sources of fire and that no Israelis were hurt in the incident.
Earlier, the sudden burst of violence raised the prospect of a wider round of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah vowed to avenge the deaths of a pair of operatives it says were killed in an Israeli strike in Syria last week. Hezbollah is also out to avenge an alleged Israeli drone strike in Beirut that Israeli media have said destroyed a sophisticated piece of equipment needed to manufacture precision-guided missiles
The bitter enemies, which fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a stalemate, have appeared to be on a collision course in recent weeks amid a series of covert and overt Israeli military strikes and Hezbollah vows of revenge.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri held telephone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron urging Washington and Paris as well as the international community to intervene in the volatile situation.
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, and Iran-backed Hezbollah to be its most immediate military threat. Hezbollah has an experienced army that has been fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria’s civil war, and it is believed to possess an arsenal of some 130,000 missiles and rockets.
Throughout the Syrian war, Israel has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes in Syria aimed at preventing alleged Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah. But in recent weeks, Israel is believed to have struck Iranian or Hezbollah targets in Iraq and Lebanon as well.
In response, Israel has bolstered its forces along the northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied it is pursuing a domestic missile-production program.
“The Islamic Resistance carried out the secretary general’s promise to retaliate for the two aggressions,” Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV presented said Sunday, referring to the Israeli airstrike in Syria and drone strike in Beirut.
In a speech early Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of fomenting the violence.
“A new empire has arisen, the goal of which is to defeat us. They dispatch proxies,” he said. “We are dealing with extremist Islam led by various elements, but in the end, the biggest threat to our existence comes from Iran.”
In Sunday’s fighting, the Israeli military statement reported a “number of hits” by anti-tank missiles fired at an IDF base and vehicles near the Lebanese border in northern Israel. The IDF responded by shelling “the source of the fire and targets in southern Lebanon.”
There was no word on casualties.
In Lebanon, the Israeli shelling was concentrated on areas close to the border near the villages of Maroun el-Ras and Yaroun, setting off some fires.
Hezbollah said the unit that carried out the attack on Israel was named after two operatives who were killed in the Israeli airstrike on Syria on Aug. 24. It said one of its units had destroyed an Israeli military vehicle and wounded the people inside.
Earlier Sunday, the Lebanese army had claimed an Israeli drone violated the country’s airspace and dropped flammable material on fields, triggering a fire that was extinguished shortly afterward by residents.
Despite Israel and Hezbollah’s deep hostility, they have largely refrained from direct fighting for the past 13 years.
The IDF said it had encouraged residents near the northern border with Lebanon to stay indoors and ordered public bomb shelters to open.
Hezbollah vowed to avenge the deaths of two operatives it says were killed in an Israeli strike in Syria last week and Israeli forces have been on high alert in expectation of an attack from the Iranian-backed terror group
Israeli communities along the Lebanon border were told Sunday to return to their routines after exchanges of fire between Israel and the Lebanese based Hezbollah terror group, ended.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenting on anti-tank missile fire towards an IDF base on the border, said his country responded by launching approximately 100 artillery shells at the sources of fire and that no Israelis were hurt in the incident.
Earlier, the sudden burst of violence raised the prospect of a wider round of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah vowed to avenge the deaths of a pair of operatives it says were killed in an Israeli strike in Syria last week. Hezbollah is also out to avenge an alleged Israeli drone strike in Beirut that Israeli media have said destroyed a sophisticated piece of equipment needed to manufacture precision-guided missiles
The bitter enemies, which fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a stalemate, have appeared to be on a collision course in recent weeks amid a series of covert and overt Israeli military strikes and Hezbollah vows of revenge.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri held telephone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron urging Washington and Paris as well as the international community to intervene in the volatile situation.
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, and Iran-backed Hezbollah to be its most immediate military threat. Hezbollah has an experienced army that has been fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria’s civil war, and it is believed to possess an arsenal of some 130,000 missiles and rockets.
Throughout the Syrian war, Israel has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes in Syria aimed at preventing alleged Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah. But in recent weeks, Israel is believed to have struck Iranian or Hezbollah targets in Iraq and Lebanon as well.
In response, Israel has bolstered its forces along the northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied it is pursuing a domestic missile-production program.
“The Islamic Resistance carried out the secretary general’s promise to retaliate for the two aggressions,” Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV presented said Sunday, referring to the Israeli airstrike in Syria and drone strike in Beirut.
In a speech early Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of fomenting the violence.
“A new empire has arisen, the goal of which is to defeat us. They dispatch proxies,” he said. “We are dealing with extremist Islam led by various elements, but in the end, the biggest threat to our existence comes from Iran.”
In Sunday’s fighting, the Israeli military statement reported a “number of hits” by anti-tank missiles fired at an IDF base and vehicles near the Lebanese border in northern Israel. The IDF responded by shelling “the source of the fire and targets in southern Lebanon.”
There was no word on casualties.
In Lebanon, the Israeli shelling was concentrated on areas close to the border near the villages of Maroun el-Ras and Yaroun, setting off some fires.
Hezbollah said the unit that carried out the attack on Israel was named after two operatives who were killed in the Israeli airstrike on Syria on Aug. 24. It said one of its units had destroyed an Israeli military vehicle and wounded the people inside.
Earlier Sunday, the Lebanese army had claimed an Israeli drone violated the country’s airspace and dropped flammable material on fields, triggering a fire that was extinguished shortly afterward by residents.
Despite Israel and Hezbollah’s deep hostility, they have largely refrained from direct fighting for the past 13 years.
The IDF said it had encouraged residents near the northern border with Lebanon to stay indoors and ordered public bomb shelters to open.
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Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says it has targeted an Israeli military vehicle near the border with the occupied Palestinian lands, killing and injuring all forces on board.
According to the Lebanese resistance group, the operation was carried out by two fighter groups on Sunday, who targeted two Israeli vehicles. One of the vehicles escaped the Lebanese fighters’ fire, but the other one was totally destroyed leaving all those on board killed or injured. Hezbollah fighters "destroyed a military vehicle on the road to the Avivim barracks (in northern Israel), killing and wounding those inside," the resistance group said in a statement, which was carried by Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV. |
Following the attack on Sunday, Israeli military sources confirmed that a military vehicle has been targeted at the border with anti-tank missiles.
Israel's military sources claimed that several anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon, scoring hits, with Israeli forces responding, Reuters reported.
"A number of anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon towards an (Israeli military) base and military vehicles," an Israeli army statement said, adding, "A number of hits have been confirmed. (Israel's military) is responding with fire towards the sources of fire and targets in southern Lebanon."
After the initial reports of fire from Lebanon, a military spokesman called on people in the occupied territories living within four kilometers (2.5 miles) of the Lebanese border to remain at home and prepare shelters, AFP reported.
According to Lebanon’s al-Manar TV, Israeli forces have fired several shells at the border village of Maroun al-Ras in south Lebanon with the channel's live broadcast from the village showing large plumes of smoke rising from the countryside near the border with the occupied territories. It added that Israeli warplanes are also conducting overflights above the village.
A statement by Lebanese army said that Israel fired 40 rockets into south Lebanon during the Sunday border escalation.
Al-Manar also reported that Israeli military is using phosphorus munitions to attack southern Lebanon in respond to Hezbollah's attack.
Al-Manar also quoted Israeli military as reporting multiple hits on an army base by anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon, noting that helicopters were transferring casualties to Zif Hospital.
Israeli media have reported a state of widespread fear and panic among Zionist settlers in the northern part of the occupied territories with Israel’s military ordering residents living within 4 kilometers of the Lebanese border to remain in their homes and open their bomb shelters.
Meanwhile, a statement released by the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri quoted him as calling the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Emmanuel Bonne, the foreign policy adviser to the French president, discussing with them the latest developments at border with Israel.
Hariri's office said he made the calls "asking the United States and France to intervene in the face of developments at the southern border."
The intelligence section of the Israeli army has reportedly banned disclosure of any details on the Hezbollah’s attack. Israeli media, however, have reported that four Israeli soldiers have been injured in the incident.
In a related development, the head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has urged "maximum restraint" after the Hezbollah movement traded fire with Israel across the border.
Andrea Tenenti, a UNIFIL spokesman said, "UNIFIL is following up on the firing across the Blue Line" between Lebanon and Israel, AFP quoted him as saying.
The spokesman added that UNIFIL chief "Major General Stefano Del Col is in contact with the parties urging the maximum restraint and asked to cease all activities."
A few hours after the border flare-up, Israel's military said in a statement that an eruption of fighting with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border was over, claiming that the attack caused no casualties among the Israeli forces.
"Hezbollah executed the attack ... however (it) failed to cause casualties," an Israeli military spokesman said, adding that “the strategic situation is still on” with Israeli military maintaining an elevated level of readiness.
Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at IDF base, vehicles in north
IDF returns fire as Lebanese terror group claims to have destroyed army vehicle; IDF tells local residents to enter protected spaces, instructs municipalities near along border to open bomb shelters; incident comes day after Nasrallah vowed response to Beirut drone attack attributed to Israel
Anti-tank missiles were fired at an Israel Defense Forces base and at several military vehicles from Lebanon on Sunday afternoon, the IDF said, warning local residents to remain in their protected areas.
The Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attacks in the area of Avivim.
Israel's military sources claimed that several anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon, scoring hits, with Israeli forces responding, Reuters reported.
"A number of anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon towards an (Israeli military) base and military vehicles," an Israeli army statement said, adding, "A number of hits have been confirmed. (Israel's military) is responding with fire towards the sources of fire and targets in southern Lebanon."
After the initial reports of fire from Lebanon, a military spokesman called on people in the occupied territories living within four kilometers (2.5 miles) of the Lebanese border to remain at home and prepare shelters, AFP reported.
According to Lebanon’s al-Manar TV, Israeli forces have fired several shells at the border village of Maroun al-Ras in south Lebanon with the channel's live broadcast from the village showing large plumes of smoke rising from the countryside near the border with the occupied territories. It added that Israeli warplanes are also conducting overflights above the village.
A statement by Lebanese army said that Israel fired 40 rockets into south Lebanon during the Sunday border escalation.
Al-Manar also reported that Israeli military is using phosphorus munitions to attack southern Lebanon in respond to Hezbollah's attack.
Al-Manar also quoted Israeli military as reporting multiple hits on an army base by anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon, noting that helicopters were transferring casualties to Zif Hospital.
Israeli media have reported a state of widespread fear and panic among Zionist settlers in the northern part of the occupied territories with Israel’s military ordering residents living within 4 kilometers of the Lebanese border to remain in their homes and open their bomb shelters.
Meanwhile, a statement released by the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri quoted him as calling the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Emmanuel Bonne, the foreign policy adviser to the French president, discussing with them the latest developments at border with Israel.
Hariri's office said he made the calls "asking the United States and France to intervene in the face of developments at the southern border."
The intelligence section of the Israeli army has reportedly banned disclosure of any details on the Hezbollah’s attack. Israeli media, however, have reported that four Israeli soldiers have been injured in the incident.
In a related development, the head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has urged "maximum restraint" after the Hezbollah movement traded fire with Israel across the border.
Andrea Tenenti, a UNIFIL spokesman said, "UNIFIL is following up on the firing across the Blue Line" between Lebanon and Israel, AFP quoted him as saying.
The spokesman added that UNIFIL chief "Major General Stefano Del Col is in contact with the parties urging the maximum restraint and asked to cease all activities."
A few hours after the border flare-up, Israel's military said in a statement that an eruption of fighting with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border was over, claiming that the attack caused no casualties among the Israeli forces.
"Hezbollah executed the attack ... however (it) failed to cause casualties," an Israeli military spokesman said, adding that “the strategic situation is still on” with Israeli military maintaining an elevated level of readiness.
Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at IDF base, vehicles in north
IDF returns fire as Lebanese terror group claims to have destroyed army vehicle; IDF tells local residents to enter protected spaces, instructs municipalities near along border to open bomb shelters; incident comes day after Nasrallah vowed response to Beirut drone attack attributed to Israel
Anti-tank missiles were fired at an Israel Defense Forces base and at several military vehicles from Lebanon on Sunday afternoon, the IDF said, warning local residents to remain in their protected areas.
The Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attacks in the area of Avivim.
Anti-tank missiles fired at Israeli military targets by Hezbollah in Lebanon
The military reported a "number of hits" by anti-tank missiles fired at an army base and military vehicles near the Lebanese border in the northern. It said it was responding with fire toward "the sources of fire and targets in southern Lebanon."
Hezbollah said that it had destroyed an IDF vehicle in the strikes. Local residents reported hearing explosions and the IDF instructed all communities with 4km of the Lebanese border to open their bomb shelters.
The incident occurred amid increasing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization, which last week accused the IDF of sending two drones is said crashed in its stronghold in Beirut.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday that the incident would not go unanswered and warned that all options were open to counter Israeli drones violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Drones like the ones used in the Beirut attack last weekend "open the door to assassinations" if left unanswered, he said. "This matter will not be tolerated ... Israel must pay the price."
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes and helicopter were seen Sunday making their way to the country’s northern border. Concrete roadblocks were also put up in some areas of the north.
Israel has accused Iran of stepping up efforts to provide Hezbollah with precision-guided missile production facilities, a warning to Beirut that Israeli counter-strikes could escalate.
Israel's army said Saturday that in the past week its "ground forces, air, navy and intelligence forces improved their preparedness for various scenarios in the northern command area."
It posted on Twitter footage of tanks and ground forces being deployed.
Without claiming responsibility for the drone attack, the Israeli military has published what it said were details about the Iranian campaign to boost Hezbollah's missile capabilities.
The military reported a "number of hits" by anti-tank missiles fired at an army base and military vehicles near the Lebanese border in the northern. It said it was responding with fire toward "the sources of fire and targets in southern Lebanon."
Hezbollah said that it had destroyed an IDF vehicle in the strikes. Local residents reported hearing explosions and the IDF instructed all communities with 4km of the Lebanese border to open their bomb shelters.
The incident occurred amid increasing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization, which last week accused the IDF of sending two drones is said crashed in its stronghold in Beirut.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday that the incident would not go unanswered and warned that all options were open to counter Israeli drones violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Drones like the ones used in the Beirut attack last weekend "open the door to assassinations" if left unanswered, he said. "This matter will not be tolerated ... Israel must pay the price."
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes and helicopter were seen Sunday making their way to the country’s northern border. Concrete roadblocks were also put up in some areas of the north.
Israel has accused Iran of stepping up efforts to provide Hezbollah with precision-guided missile production facilities, a warning to Beirut that Israeli counter-strikes could escalate.
Israel's army said Saturday that in the past week its "ground forces, air, navy and intelligence forces improved their preparedness for various scenarios in the northern command area."
It posted on Twitter footage of tanks and ground forces being deployed.
Without claiming responsibility for the drone attack, the Israeli military has published what it said were details about the Iranian campaign to boost Hezbollah's missile capabilities.
The Israeli occupation army bombed the border with Lebanon with artillery fire on Sunday, al-Manar satellite channel reported.
According to the channel, Israeli drones dropped flammables on a pine forest known as the Bastra Farm, sparking fires.
The Israeli army admitted it had targeted Lebanese border areas.
The renewed Israeli attack on Lebanon took place one day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that his group would retaliate for Israeli drone attacks last week in Beirut.
Israeli artillery shells southern Lebanon, drone drops incendiary devices along border
Israeli artillery units have struck the southern part of Lebanon shortly after an Israeli drone violated the Lebanese airspace, and dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Israeli forces launched several 155-millimeter shells on the Jabal al-Rous area in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfarshouba Hills on Sunday afternoon.
According to the channel, Israeli drones dropped flammables on a pine forest known as the Bastra Farm, sparking fires.
The Israeli army admitted it had targeted Lebanese border areas.
The renewed Israeli attack on Lebanon took place one day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that his group would retaliate for Israeli drone attacks last week in Beirut.
Israeli artillery shells southern Lebanon, drone drops incendiary devices along border
Israeli artillery units have struck the southern part of Lebanon shortly after an Israeli drone violated the Lebanese airspace, and dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Israeli forces launched several 155-millimeter shells on the Jabal al-Rous area in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfarshouba Hills on Sunday afternoon.
The photo shows an Israeli shell after it slammed into the Jabal al-Rous area in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfarshouba Hills, southern Lebanon, on September 1, 2019
The report added that the Israeli forces opened fire from their posts in the al-Zaoura area in Syria’s occupied Golan Heights.
An Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle, meanwhile, dropped incendiary devices on a forest in the border area of Bastara.
The Lebanese army said in a statement that the drone entered Lebanese airspace at 11:15 a.m. local time (0815 GMT) on Sunday, and dropped an unspecified number of devices, causing fires in some areas.
It added that the army would continue to follow up on Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Images published by the private LBCI television network showed smoke rising from a tree-covered hill, reportedly caused by the weapons.
Tensions have been high recently between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah in connection with the Israeli attacks on August 25 in Syria and Lebanon. Hezbollah has pledged to retaliate.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday evening that the resistance movement was determined to give a response to Israel over its recent drone incursion into Lebanon.
"The need for a response is decided," he said during a televised speech ahead of the Islamic lunar calendar month of Muharram – the 10th day of which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam and Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
The Hezbollah chief added that the response was about “establishing the rules of engagement and... the logic of protection for the country. Israel must pay a price,” he said.
“Israel should know that the Lebanese air space is not open to her,” Nasrallah said, adding that the Israel attack could open the door to assassinations if left unanswered.
Nasrallah noted that the response to the Israeli attack could come from anywhere in Lebanon and not only from the Shebaa Farms south of the country, where Hezbollah normally stations most of its military equipment.
“The response will come from Lebanon. We will choose the place and time,” he said.
On August 26, Hezbollah said Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission the previous weekend.
According to the resistance movement, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in the suburb of Dahieh. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Nasrallah vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the resistance movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones.
IDF sends warplanes, puts up roadblocks in north as it readies for war with Hezbollah
Lebanese army also says Israeli drones dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border; Israeli military confirmed the fires in the Mount Dov area started as a result of IDF activity
Israeli warplanes and helicopter were seen Sunday making their way to the country’s northern border. Concrete roadblocks were also put up in some areas of the north as the tension between Israel and Lebanese terror group Hezbollah continues to escalate following an alleged Israeli drone attack in Beirut last week.
Israeli military also said Sunday a fire which broke out on the disputed piece of land along the Lebanese border was a result of IDF activity in the area.
"A short while ago, fires broke out in the Lebanese border area. The fires originate with operations by our forces in the area," said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
The statement comes after Lebanese army said the IDF had shelled the area of Mount Dov near the Lebanese border and dropped incendiary material using drones that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
The Lebanese army statement said it was following up on the violation with U.N. peacekeepers but gave no further details.
The military operated in area on Saturday as well with several fires reported to have been started in the region for reasons which remain unknown.
The army also said that in the past week its "ground forces, air, navy and intelligence forces improved their preparedness for various scenarios in the northern command area." It posted on Twitter footage of tanks and ground forces being deployed.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said earlier on Saturday in a televised speech that all options were open to counter Israeli drones violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Drones like the ones used in the Beirut attack last weekend "open the door to assassinations" if left unanswered, he said. "This matter will not be tolerated ... Israel must pay the price."
The report added that the Israeli forces opened fire from their posts in the al-Zaoura area in Syria’s occupied Golan Heights.
An Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle, meanwhile, dropped incendiary devices on a forest in the border area of Bastara.
The Lebanese army said in a statement that the drone entered Lebanese airspace at 11:15 a.m. local time (0815 GMT) on Sunday, and dropped an unspecified number of devices, causing fires in some areas.
It added that the army would continue to follow up on Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Images published by the private LBCI television network showed smoke rising from a tree-covered hill, reportedly caused by the weapons.
Tensions have been high recently between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah in connection with the Israeli attacks on August 25 in Syria and Lebanon. Hezbollah has pledged to retaliate.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday evening that the resistance movement was determined to give a response to Israel over its recent drone incursion into Lebanon.
"The need for a response is decided," he said during a televised speech ahead of the Islamic lunar calendar month of Muharram – the 10th day of which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam and Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
The Hezbollah chief added that the response was about “establishing the rules of engagement and... the logic of protection for the country. Israel must pay a price,” he said.
“Israel should know that the Lebanese air space is not open to her,” Nasrallah said, adding that the Israel attack could open the door to assassinations if left unanswered.
Nasrallah noted that the response to the Israeli attack could come from anywhere in Lebanon and not only from the Shebaa Farms south of the country, where Hezbollah normally stations most of its military equipment.
“The response will come from Lebanon. We will choose the place and time,” he said.
On August 26, Hezbollah said Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission the previous weekend.
According to the resistance movement, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in the suburb of Dahieh. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Nasrallah vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the resistance movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones.
IDF sends warplanes, puts up roadblocks in north as it readies for war with Hezbollah
Lebanese army also says Israeli drones dropped incendiary material that sparked a fire in a forest at the border; Israeli military confirmed the fires in the Mount Dov area started as a result of IDF activity
Israeli warplanes and helicopter were seen Sunday making their way to the country’s northern border. Concrete roadblocks were also put up in some areas of the north as the tension between Israel and Lebanese terror group Hezbollah continues to escalate following an alleged Israeli drone attack in Beirut last week.
Israeli military also said Sunday a fire which broke out on the disputed piece of land along the Lebanese border was a result of IDF activity in the area.
"A short while ago, fires broke out in the Lebanese border area. The fires originate with operations by our forces in the area," said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
The statement comes after Lebanese army said the IDF had shelled the area of Mount Dov near the Lebanese border and dropped incendiary material using drones that sparked a fire in a forest at the border.
The Lebanese army statement said it was following up on the violation with U.N. peacekeepers but gave no further details.
The military operated in area on Saturday as well with several fires reported to have been started in the region for reasons which remain unknown.
The army also said that in the past week its "ground forces, air, navy and intelligence forces improved their preparedness for various scenarios in the northern command area." It posted on Twitter footage of tanks and ground forces being deployed.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said earlier on Saturday in a televised speech that all options were open to counter Israeli drones violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Drones like the ones used in the Beirut attack last weekend "open the door to assassinations" if left unanswered, he said. "This matter will not be tolerated ... Israel must pay the price."
31 aug 2019
Fighters with the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement parade in a southern suburb of the capital Beirut to mark al-Quds International Day on May 31, 2019
A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese resistance movement will hit targets deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories in case the Tel Aviv regime launches a new war of aggression against Lebanon.
“The stance of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has pushed the Zionist enemy to live in a state of extreme terror, panic and caution to an extent that it has started hiding behind dummies in its military vehicles,” Mohammad Yaghi said on Friday.
Nasrallah’s executive assistant further noted that Hezbollah’s response to any Israeli military campaign will not be limited to the border but rather deep inside the occupied territories.
“Our decision is to strike this enemy, which has launched a direct attack on us, on a normal house in (Syria’s) Aqraba and in Beirut’s southern suburbs (through a drone). This is not an idle threat, but a real action after which the enemy will learn not to commit new follies,” Yaghi said.
“We have mobilized equipment, weapons and personnel to confront the enemy, and the resistance is now much stronger than the time prior to the 2006 aggression. We will let the enemy taste the bitterness, and it will regret its deed and aggression very much. They struck deep inside and we will respond deep inside. We will have another response for their drone strike as well,” he pointed out.
Hezbollah said on August 26 that Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission last weekend.
According to the resistance movement, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in Dahieh suburb. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Nasrallah vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones.
Speaking in a televised speech broadcast live from the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on August 16, Nasrallah warned Israeli officials against launching a new military aggression against his country, stressing that all Israeli battalions will be destroyed under the eyes of mainstream media.
“Israeli military experts acknowledge that the Israeli army is incapable of waging a fresh war on Lebanon,” he said.
A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese resistance movement will hit targets deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories in case the Tel Aviv regime launches a new war of aggression against Lebanon.
“The stance of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has pushed the Zionist enemy to live in a state of extreme terror, panic and caution to an extent that it has started hiding behind dummies in its military vehicles,” Mohammad Yaghi said on Friday.
Nasrallah’s executive assistant further noted that Hezbollah’s response to any Israeli military campaign will not be limited to the border but rather deep inside the occupied territories.
“Our decision is to strike this enemy, which has launched a direct attack on us, on a normal house in (Syria’s) Aqraba and in Beirut’s southern suburbs (through a drone). This is not an idle threat, but a real action after which the enemy will learn not to commit new follies,” Yaghi said.
“We have mobilized equipment, weapons and personnel to confront the enemy, and the resistance is now much stronger than the time prior to the 2006 aggression. We will let the enemy taste the bitterness, and it will regret its deed and aggression very much. They struck deep inside and we will respond deep inside. We will have another response for their drone strike as well,” he pointed out.
Hezbollah said on August 26 that Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission last weekend.
According to the resistance movement, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in Dahieh suburb. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Nasrallah vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones.
Speaking in a televised speech broadcast live from the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on August 16, Nasrallah warned Israeli officials against launching a new military aggression against his country, stressing that all Israeli battalions will be destroyed under the eyes of mainstream media.
“Israeli military experts acknowledge that the Israeli army is incapable of waging a fresh war on Lebanon,” he said.
30 aug 2019
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri says the Israeli regime bears full responsibility for the last weekend’s drone attack on the southern part of the country’s capital Beirut.
“This unacceptable act threatens the stability and peace that has prevailed on the international border for 13 years,” Hariri told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a telephone call on Friday afternoon.
Such acts of aggression, the Lebanese prime minister said according to a statement from his office, “threaten to drag the region into an unaccounted for conflict.”
Hariri further noted that such an attack is unprecedented since the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon.
He then called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon.
Hariri finally told Guterres that he would continue regular communications with him in a bid to “deter any escalation.”
On Tuesday, Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council stated that the Lebanese nation reserves the right to defend the country “by any means necessary” in the wake of the drone strike.
“This is a right that is enshrined in the UN Charter,” the Council, a government body in charge of defense policy, said in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that “national unity remains the best weapon in the face of any aggression.”
The meeting was chaired by President Michel Aoun and attended by Hariri, the ministers of defense, interior, foreign affairs and finance, and the heads of security agencies.
“The President underlined the need to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity because it is a legitimate right,” the statement noted.
Hariri had earlier called upon the Security Council to pressure Israel not to initiate any act of aggression against Lebanon.
“If Israel’s aggressions escalate, this will have dangerous repercussions on Lebanon and the whole region,” a statement by Hariri's office said.
The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement said on Monday that Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission on the weekend.
According to Hezbollah, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in Dahieh suburb. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary general, vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones, warning the Tel Aviv regime to immediately halt such breaches.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri says the Israeli regime bears full responsibility for the last weekend’s drone attack on the southern part of the country’s capital Beirut.
“This unacceptable act threatens the stability and peace that has prevailed on the international border for 13 years,” Hariri told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a telephone call on Friday afternoon.
Such acts of aggression, the Lebanese prime minister said according to a statement from his office, “threaten to drag the region into an unaccounted for conflict.”
Hariri further noted that such an attack is unprecedented since the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon.
He then called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon.
Hariri finally told Guterres that he would continue regular communications with him in a bid to “deter any escalation.”
On Tuesday, Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council stated that the Lebanese nation reserves the right to defend the country “by any means necessary” in the wake of the drone strike.
“This is a right that is enshrined in the UN Charter,” the Council, a government body in charge of defense policy, said in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that “national unity remains the best weapon in the face of any aggression.”
The meeting was chaired by President Michel Aoun and attended by Hariri, the ministers of defense, interior, foreign affairs and finance, and the heads of security agencies.
“The President underlined the need to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity because it is a legitimate right,” the statement noted.
Hariri had earlier called upon the Security Council to pressure Israel not to initiate any act of aggression against Lebanon.
“If Israel’s aggressions escalate, this will have dangerous repercussions on Lebanon and the whole region,” a statement by Hariri's office said.
The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement said on Monday that Israel had sent two drones into Lebanon on a bombing mission on the weekend.
According to Hezbollah, the first drone had fallen on a building housing Hezbollah’s media office in Dahieh suburb. The second drone, which appeared to have been sent by Israel to search for the first one, had crashed in an empty plot nearby after being detonated in the air, it added.
Following the drone raids, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary general, vowed in a televised speech that fighters of the movement would counter any further violation of the Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones, warning the Tel Aviv regime to immediately halt such breaches.
