Lebanon’s Hezbollah says will ‘cut off’ Israel’s hands if it reaches for disputed gas
- Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah’s comments came amid US efforts to settle a maritime border dispute between the two countries
- The feud escalated in June after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon
Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah warned Israel on Tuesday against reaching for offshore gas reserves at a time US-mediated talks are aiming to settle a maritime border dispute.
“The hand that reaches for any of this wealth will be severed,” Nasrallah, head of the Iran-backed Shiite Muslim political and military movement, told supporters in southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.
“Lebanon’s oil, gas and water resources must remain under its control and no one should be allowed to rob the country,” he said in his televised speech marking the Shiite mourning ritual of Ashura.
The dispute escalated in early June after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.
This prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of US-mediated negotiations, while Nasrallah has responded by repeatedly launching threats.
On July 2, Israel said it had downed three drones launched by Hezbollah that were headed towards Karish.