Following a series of drone strikes in Lebanon blamed on Israel, the head of the Hezbollah terror group claimed Israel “must pay a price.”
By World Israel News Staff and AP
The leader of Lebanon’s Iran-backed terror army, Hezbollah, broadcast new threats on Saturday related to air strikes within Lebanese territory it believes Israel carried out.
Terror chief Hassan Nasrallah reiterated his group’s intention to retaliate against the Jewish state, saying Israel “must pay a price” for its aggression.
Following one of the drone strikes, reports indicated a key facility related to Hezbollah’s Iranian-backed precision missile program was struck, with critical infrastructure destroyed.
On Saturday, Nasrallah categorically denied Israeli claims about facilities to produce precision-guided missiles in Lebanon.
According to Nasrallah, such accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are “lie[s]” to justify Israeli aggression against Lebanon.
“We do not have factories to produce precision-guided missiles in Lebanon,” Nasrallah said. His comments came in a speech to supporters Saturday night, a week after the alleged Israeli drone strike.
According to Hezbollah’s official TV station, the two drones used in the attack south of Beirut were flown from Israeli gunboats off the Lebanese coast.
The TV reported that Hezbollah handed over the drones to the Lebanese army after conducting its investigation.
Hezbollah claimed its explosive experts found that one drone was laden with highly explosive materials, suggesting the aerial vehicles were designed to carry out attacks. One drone was initially thought to be a reconnaissance drone.
On Saturday, the IDF sent troops and artillery to the north in response to reports that Hezbollah is planning a revenge attack .
According to the Lebanese media, several explosions rang out near the Israeli-Lebanon border on Saturday evening.
On Friday, Army Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi came to the border area after cancelling leave for combat soldiers in the area.
The IDF also warned that Israel would deliver a “harsh” response to any potential Hezbollah strike.