Gantz Accuses Iran of Trying to Buy Lebanon

By Hamodia Staff

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun meets with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon on Wednesday. The IMF said Lebanon’s progress in implementing reforms required to unlock relief funds remains very slow. (Dalati Nohra/Handout via Reuters)

YERUSHALAYIM — Defense Minister Benny Gantz accused Iran of trying to “buy” Lebanon by having it rely on Hezbollah for fuel and repairing the country’s failing power network, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday.

“Iran, through Hezbollah, is trying to buy Lebanon by supplying fuel, repairing the electricity system and building power plants,” Gantz said at an event in the northern town of Katzrin.

“Lebanon’s energy dependence on Iran may eventually lead to the establishment of Iranian bases on Lebanese soil and the destabilization of the region,” he warned.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar broadcaster said Tuesday that Tehran has offered to send 600,000 tons of fuel to Lebanon over the next five months to help the country through an ongoing economic crisis. Iran’s embassy in Beirut later said that tankers could be in Lebanon within two weeks. 

Most Lebanese currently have only one or two hours of electricity each day, which makes them worse off in that respect from even the impoverished residents of Gaza.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!