29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 12 July 2017 - 10:33
Story Code : 268009

Israel watches anxiously as Iran expands military influence in Syria, Lebanon

Sputnik - A missile factory currently being built by Iran in Lebanon will be 50 meters below the ground and fortified against Israeli airstrikes, according to a report by the French media outlet Intelligence Online.


According tothereport, the factory will comprise oftwo facilities. The first facility, located inHermel, inthe eastern part ofthe Beqaa Valley, will manufacture Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missiles, witha range ofup to300 kilometers. The missile is capable ofcarrying a 400 kg warhead.


The other facility will be located onthe Lebanese coast betweenthe cities ofTyre and Sidon. The facility will manufacture missile parts that will be delivered toother factories, according tothe report.

These missile factories inLebanon have been a headache forIsrael. The Israeli newspaper YediotAhronot recently published a report, citing Education Minister Naftali Bennett. According tothe minister, Israel is considering a preemptive strike onthem sinceIsrael sees them asa threat.

Sputnik Persiansat downwith Emad Abshenass, an Iranian political analyst and editor-in-chief ofIran Press newspaper, todiscuss the situation.

Abshenass pointed outthat earlier this year Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Lebanon has every right tobuild a missile factory inLebanon fornations defense needs.
"As a sovereign state Lebanon can do that and no one has the right tomeddle inits affairs, including Israel. Lebanon is building a missile factory todefend itself againstexternal threats, whether they are Israeli strikes or Daesh attacks," the expert said.


He suggested that Israels threat toattack the missile factories inLebanon is rhetoric because the Israeli military is incapable ofdestroying them.
"Moreover, if Israel decides todo that it would face a tough response fromLebanon. In turn, Iran, asone ofHezbollahs main allies, would also engage and provide the Lebanese military withsupport. But I think Israel is unlikely todo that," Abshenass said.


Another reason forIsraeli concerns is that Iran is considering establishing a transportation route todeliver weapons toDamascus fromthe production sites inLebanon. Bennett stressed that Israel will not let Iran implement the initiative.


Abshenass noted that infact such a corridor was established long ago and has played an important role inmaintaining Tehrans presence inSyria.
"Irans active engagement inSyria and Iraq has significantly helped the Syrian Army inthe fight againstDaesh. In fact, Irans involvement helped disturb the plan ofthe United States and Israel todivide Syria and Iraq. This is why Israel is looking foran excuse tojustify its strikes onSyrias territory," the expert said.

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