Israeli UN ambassador and Lebanese FM trade barbs amid growing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel
The United Nations Security Council convened at the request of Algeria, following recent tensions between the Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah and Israel.
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib attended the emergency UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing alongside the ambassadors of Syria and Iran, two of Hezbollah's key allies.
Habib condemned Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
"A rogue entity that disregards international legal decisions cannot be allowed to continue evading accountability", Habib said.
"Israel fled Lebanon in 2000 and is now repeating the same mistakes of the past," the Lebanese minister added, referring to Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from its former security zone in southern Lebanon.
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon responded by accusing Lebanon of allowing its territory to be used for terrorism against Israel.
“Mr. Bou Habib, you allowed a terrorist organization to build a state within a state and wreak havoc on your people. Instead of blaming your peace-loving neighbor, the time has come to take action and curb Hezbollah, which is the only way to prevent further escalation,” Danon stated.
“If you continue to ignore Hezbollah's aggression, the pain and suffering of the Lebanese people will be on your shoulders,” the Israeli UN envoy warned.
The Iranian UN envoy blasted Israel for the pager explosion earlier this week, in which the Iranian ambassador reportedly lost one eye and seriously injured the other.
“The attack against our ambassador in Lebanon is an act of terrorism and a violation of international law,” the Iranian UN envoy stated.
Dozens of Hezbollah terrorists and Iranian IRGC operatives were killed, and hundreds seriously injured this week when thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives exploded in Lebanon and Syria.
Israel recently neutralized some 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers with 1,000 rockets that were ready to be fired against Israel. On Friday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) eliminated at least a dozen senior Hezbollah operatives in Beirut, including Ibrahim Aqil who headed Hezbollah’s elite Radwan commando force.
Hezbollah is widely considered one of the world’s strongest non-state actors with military capabilities that eclipse those of many nations including the Lebanese military. It is, therefore, unlikely that the Lebanese government can act against Hezbollah should it potentially decide to do so. The Hezbollah issue is further complicated by the fact that Hezbollah is officially a member of the Lebanese government.
The Iranian terror proxy group Hezbollah is believed to have amassed a vast arsenal of some 150,000 rockets and missiles that can reach virtually any point inside the Jewish state. Its arsenal includes drones and various other weapons.
Since Oct. 8, Hezbollah has fired over 8,000 missiles, rockets and drones at Israel in support of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.
Dozens of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers have been killed in the Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. Israel Defense Forces has responded by carrying out extensive aerial strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, eliminating hundreds of operatives, including a growing number of senior commanders.
In late July, Israel eliminated Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s most senior military commander in an IAF strike in southern Beirut.
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
