The IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate chief assessed on Monday that the head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group was “close to making a mistake” that could spark a regional war, while warning that the conflict between Israel and Iran was becoming increasingly direct.
Speaking at a conference hosted by the Institute for Policy and Strategy of Reichman University in Herzliya, Aharon Haliva said “the chances of an escalation that could deteriorate into war is not low,” and that, as far as Hassan Nasrallah is concerned, a recent flareup on the Israel-Lebanon border may not be over.
Haliva alluded to Nasrallah’s past comments that Hezbollah’s abduction of two Israeli soldiers on the border in 2006, which set off the Second Lebanon War, was a mistake, but said he is now starting to believe the balance of power can be tested.
“The story of the terrorist at the Meggido Junction isn’t a one-off,” Haliva said, referring to a bombing attack in March that seriously injured a man, and is suspected to have been orchestrated by the Iran-backed terror group.
“Nasrallah is close to making a mistake that could plunge the region into a big war. He is close to making this mistake from Lebanon or Syria.”
He also said Syrian President Bashar Assad, another Iranian ally, was growing increasingly confident, noting his inclusion at the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia last week after a 12-year absence and a recent drone attack launched from Syria.
“All this creates a high potential for an escalation in the region and we need to be prepared that our enemies won’t understand the message we’re sending. Let them not be mistaken, we’re ready to use force and we will do whatever is possible and necessary to bring calm,” Haliva said.
The remarks came a day after Hezbollah invited media outlets to cover a major drill simulating war with Israel, claiming it was ready for a potential conflict with the Jewish state.
Turning to Iran itself, Haliva called the Islamic Republic “a real threat to Israel,” and said “the confrontation has become direct” between the countries in recent years.
Haliva said Iran’s atomic program has continued to progress — “both in the fields of [uranium] enrichment and a weapon” — but stressed his unit does not believe Iranian leaders have yet made a decision to “break out” for a nuclear bomb.
“But there is preparation for the day in which the supreme leader or his successor makes such a decision. We have our eyes open to signal at any moment Iran’s readiness on this point,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment