Page 9 - MEOG Week 27 2022

MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG

Israel shoots down drones

heading for Karish gas field

ISRAEL THE Israeli military this week said it had inter- to the economy and prosperity of the Lebanese
cepted and shot down three drones launched nation”. The foray was also decried by Lebanon’s
by Hezbollah near the Energean Power FPSO, Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, coming
currently being hooked up at the offshore Karish amid efforts to seek a maritime border resolution
gas field. that is likely to be a prerequisite for any successful
Military spokesman Ran Kochav told local development of Lebanon’s offshore.
media that having received advanced notice “Any act that falls outside the framework of
about “three hostile UAVs which approached the the state’s responsibility and the diplomatic track
airspace over Israel’s economic waters”, one of the within which negotiations are taking place is
drones had been shot down by an Israeli fighter unacceptable and exposes [Lebanon] to unnec-
jet, while the other two were brought down by an essary risks,” Habib said after meeting Prime
air defence system on an Israeli Navy corvette. Minister Najib Mikati.
While noting that the drones were unarmed He called on “all parties to show a spirit of
and part of a reconnaissance mission, Hezbollah supreme national interest and commit to … sup-
said that its “message was delivered”. porting the state in the negotiation process […]
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Benny The ongoing negotiations held with the assis-
Gantz said: “Israel will continue to protect its tance of the US mediator are in advanced stages.”
assets, and considers itself obligated and entitled Meanwhile, he noted that the launch had
to act and respond in the face of any attempt to taken place without consent from Beirut.
harm it.” Energean Power arrived at Karish in early
He said that Hezbollah was “preventing the June and is in the process of being commissioned
state of Lebanon from reaching an agreement ahead of the beginning of gas production from
regarding maritime borders, which are critical the field in Q3.™

Week 27 06•July•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9