BEIRUT: Hezbollah’s attack on an Israeli patrol in occupied Shebaa that wounded two soldiers is justified under the government’s policy statement, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said.
“The resistance [Hezbollah] operation in Shebaa Farms [Tuesday] took place on Lebanese territory, and the policy statement stipulates liberating Shebaa Farms and occupied Lebanese territories by any means,” Bassil said in remarks published Thursday in Al-Akhbar.
He accused Israel of “tampering with the rules of stability and exploiting the takfiri offensive to change the balance of power.”
The border incident came two days after Hezbollah fought a fierce battle with Nusra Front militants on the outskirts of Brital after the militants launched surprise attacks on party posts on the outskirts of Brital and Nahleh.
Hezbollah acknowledged the deaths of eight fighters, while security sources said at least 14 Nusra Front jihadists were also killed in the clashes.
In addition, Bassil said, the attack came in response to an Israeli violation in which a Lebanese soldier was wounded by Israeli fire from the same area where Hezbollah planted a bomb in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for planting the bomb Tuesday, saying that “ Shebaa Farms are occupied and it is the right of the resistance to conduct operations to liberate the land.”
“Dozens of Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty are registered each month,” Bassil complained. “Lebanese unanimously agree that Lebanon has the legitimate right to resist.”
Bassil, nevertheless, stressed that Lebanon was “keen on stability on its southern border and is committed to Resolution 1701.”
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