Hebzolah says he is "close" to "defeating Israel" by land and air

MADRID, 25 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The head of the Executive Council of the Hezbollah Shiite militia party, Hashem Safiedin, stressed on Monday that the group "is close" to "defeating" Israel "by land and air", amid the rise in tensions in recent months. .

"We are close to defeating the Israelis by land and air, if we want, and we will decide when to do it," he said, before assuring that it is not the Israeli Army that has the initiative on this matter.

Safiedin has stressed that the group does not want a war to break out, although he has added that "it is prepared on all fronts", according to the Lebanese news portal Naharnet. "The more pressure is put on our country, the more its determination, strength and solidity will increase," he concluded.

Israel's prime minister and foreign minister, Yair Lapid, stated in early July that the Lebanese government "must keep Hezbollah under control" and warned that, if not, the Israeli authorities "will have to do it."

Lapid's words came after the Israeli Army announced the shooting down of three Hezbollah drones that were supposedly heading towards the Karish gas field, in Mediterranean waters. Tension has risen in recent weeks, following the arrival of Israeli ships to begin mining, drawing criticism from Beirut.

Israel and Lebanon -- which are technically at war and do not maintain diplomatic relations -- began a process of indirect talks in October 2020, mediated by the United States and held under the auspices of the United Nations at the headquarters of the international organization. in the Lebanese city of Naqura.

The negotiations revolve around an area of ​​860 square kilometers that, according to both countries, is located in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones, a matter of special importance after the discovery of gas reserves in this area that both Israel and Lebanon hope to be able to exploit. .