Israeli Media: Nasrallah Has Expanded Deterrence Strategy
Israeli media will have to decide whether the interception of an Iranian ship with oil products justifies an escalation on the northern border.
The Israeli media reacted to Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech today, in which he disclosed that the first ship filled with fuel is leaving Iran towards Lebanon within hours. He emphasized that this would not be the only ship and that more will follow suit.
Daniel Citrinowic, a Senior Researcher at the Abba Eban center who specializes in Middle East affairs and national security, stated "Nasrallah has expanded the famous deterrence equation between Israel and Hezbollah to include ships that are arriving in Lebanon."
Citrinowic added that Nasrallah's implication was clear: Any Israeli offensive against any ship will be met with a harsh response from Hezbollah, noting that Israel will have to assess if targeting the ship is worth the expected escalation on the northern border.
An Arab affairs correspondent for "Israel's" Kan channel tweeted: "If Israel touches the fuel ship arriving from Iran and the upcoming ships, it will be considered an attack on Lebanese sovereignty, and Lebanon will have the right to respond."