The Jerusalem Post

Israel preparing diplomatic ground for Hezbollah action

- • By HERB KEINON

Preparing the diplomatic ground for possible military action against Hezbollah's precision missile program in Lebanon, Israel's mission at the UN informed the Security Council on Monday that Hezbollah is operating a facility for the production of these missiles in the Bekaa Valley.

According to a statement by Israel's mission at the UN, “The IDF has provided valuable informatio­n on Hezbollah's precision missile program in Lebanon, which has helped Israel advance its case in recent letters to the Security Council.”

In a letter to the council on Monday, Israel noted that Hezbollah, “operates a site intended for the production and conversion of precision missiles near the town of Nabi Chit in the Bekaa Valley, with Iranian sponsorshi­p, including financial and logistical support.

“Since 2016, Iran and Hezbollah have focused their efforts on converting existing rockets into precision guided missiles on Lebanese soil. In order to sustain this conversion, Hezbollah establishe­d facilities across Lebanon, including in Beirut,” the letter read. “The commander of the Lebanon Corps in the Quds Force, Muhammad Hussein-Zada Hejazi, oversaw the project, under the guidance of Qassem Suleimani, high commander of the Quds Force. The components necessary for manufactur­ing and converting precision guided missiles are transporte­d from Iran to Syria by three primary routes: by ground, by air, by sea.”

In addition to formal letters, ambassador to the UN Danny Danon is lobbying his counterpar­ts to support Israel's “defensive activity” in Lebanon and to call on the government in Beirut to take action against Hezbollah's precision missile project.

“IDF deterrence against Hezbollah is important, but it also requires diplomatic efforts against the internatio­nal community to recognize the responsibi­lity of the Lebanese government, on whose territory a terrorist organizati­on has establishe­d itself against Israel,” Danon said.

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