Empty Israeli Threats

Nida Al Watan, Lebanon, September 12

As if Lebanon weren’t already besieged by numerous troubles, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently announced the discovery of an “Iranian base” at an airport just 20 kilometers from the Israeli border, within Lebanese territory. Gallant claimed that the Iranian flag flew atop the airfield, as “a sign that the Iranian regime is conspiring against Israel,” and that “the land is Lebanese, but the control is Iranian, and the target is Israel.” The revelations are an alarming indicator of the regional conflict still underway. This minister appears to be misleading the public. If there truly was a military airbase situated 20 kilometers from Palestine’s occupied territories, no flag would be allowed to fly above it, as if inviting enemy forces to drop bombs on it. Such a scenario is highly implausible; if Israel perceived a threat from a nearby airport, it would have been destroyed without warning, much like the various weapons depots in Syria belonging to Iran that have been bombed by Israel. There would have been no need for an advanced announcement or psychological preparation beforehand. The attacks were executed with precision and impunity. Even if there were an airport within Lebanese territory that is under Iranian control, targeting Israel would not be its purpose. The Israeli defense minister lied to the public. —Sana Aljak (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)