Hezbollah MP: IDF spokesman's op-ed 'the arrogance of cowards'
Member of Hezbollah's Shura Council and Lebanese parliamentarian calls IDF Spokesman Manelis's op-ed a 'provocation by cowards,' adding 'Hezbollah is stronger today and can destroy the Israeli army'; Manelis's op-ed cautioned the people of Lebanon against their country becoming an 'Iranian missile factory.'
The Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah Lebanon rejected Monday the IDF spokesman's rare op-ed in Lebanese media outlets, in which he cautioned that Iran was turning Lebanon into "one large missile factory", as "braggadocios and provocative statements that can only be published by cowards."
The response to IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis's op-ed was carried by al-Hewar al-Motamaden ("The continuous dialogue" in Arabic), a Lebanese blog repository, which quoted Mohammad Raad, a Lebanese parliamentarian from Hezbollah's political wing and member of the organization's Shura Council, its governing body.
Raad warned Israel against "doing anything foolish and embroil itself in a war that would be destructive for it. Hezbollah is more powerful today and possesses abilities capable of destroying the Israeli army."
"Israel has become isolated both regionally and internationally," Raad claimed, "and its media spins are meant purely to cover up its distress, because it wants to present itself as strong."
Manelis's op-ed, carried by various Lebanese opposition websites and Arab media, called on the citizens of Lebanon to open their eyes to the Iranian takeover of their country.
"Lebanon has turned—by its actions and omissions and by members of the international community turning a blind eye—into one large missile factory," Manelis cautioned.
"It's no longer a transfer of arms, funds or consultation. Iran has de-facto opened a new branch, the 'Lebanon branch.' Iran is here. The IDF is ready and capable of (tackling) any scenario, and plans to improve its readiness further during the year," Manelis added.
"As we have proven in recent years, and anyone who should know this already does, our security red lines are clearly demarcated. We have proven that is the case every week. The choice is yours, people of Lebanon," Manelis wrote.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu corroborated Manelis's assessment Monday before taking off for his state visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Before boarding his plane, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he will be discussing with President Putin in the Kremlin "Iran's attempt to turn Lebanon into one large missile site for the manufacture of precise missiles against Israel—something we cannot abide by."
