The Lebanese Foreign Minister considers the rocket attacks by the Shiite militia Hezbollah on Israel as justified. The neighboring state has occupied Lebanese territory for decades, “and international law allows resistance to the occupation,” Abdallah Bou Habib said on Thursday after meeting with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Beirut (see video above).
Bou Habib spoke at a joint press conference with Schallenberg when asked by the APA whether his government has any influence at all over the powerful Shiite militia. The Lebanese Foreign Minister specifically called on Israel to conclude an agreement on the land border with his country, along the lines of the agreement already reached on the maritime border. If Israel were to withdraw completely, “the problem of Israel and Hezbollah would be at least partially solved.”
Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal is much larger than Hamas’s
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, there have been fears that Hezbollah, allied with the terrorist organization, could open a second front in northern Israel. The militia is much stronger than the regular Lebanese army and has a rocket arsenal that dwarfs that of Hamas. That is why Israel repeatedly carries out missions to destroy Hezbollah facilities and commanders in its northern neighbor.
“Until now, the provocations have been maintained to some extent. And I hope it stays that way,” Schallenberg said, commenting on the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. All actors are called on to exercise utmost restraint, the Foreign Minister said, including towards Israel. However, he only mentioned Hezbollah by name, warning against “playing with fire.”
“Austria is not a spectator”
Schallenberg said Austria is “not a bystander” in Lebanon. He referred to the current 176 Bundeswehr soldiers who are part of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL. The force had a “calming” influence on the situation at the border even if it failed to achieve a withdrawal, he said, referring to UN resolution 1701, which requires Hezbollah to withdraw to positions north of the Litani River. At the same time, he called on “everyone to do their utmost to ensure the safety of the peacekeepers.”
Source: Krone
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