Israeli Ambassador: We Will Attack Hezbollah in Syria If There Is a Real Threat

The Israeli ambassador to Russia warned that if Iran or Iranian proxy groups in the region seek to establish a "second front" against Israel from the Golan Heights in Syrian territory, Israel will act "without delay" against it. Russian news agency Interfax reported on Saturday, April 1, that "Grigory Korn," the Israeli ambassador in Russia, stated in an interview that Israel is prepared to conduct military operations against Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups in Syrian territory if a real threat arises. In response to the question of whether Israel is ready to carry out military operations against Hezbollah in Syria, he said: "If there is a real threat, then it is clear that the answer to this question is yes." The ambassador added that "the Iranian regime has always been interested in supporting Syria and Hezbollah and using them as effective proxy groups to threaten Israel; these groups also have a deterrent function." Grigory Korn emphasized that "the threat posed by Hezbollah's movements in Syria to Israel is not merely theoretical and abstract." He also added that "in addition, if the situation worsens in the Golan Heights in Syria, Israel will respond immediately." Korn continued in his interview that "artillery shells fired from these areas hit our territory, whether intentionally or unintentionally." He concluded by stating that "the Israeli army will not leave these [shelling incidents] unanswered. However, if the situation changes, and if they want to create a second front in the Golan Heights, whether it is Hezbollah, other Shiite militias, or especially Iran itself, such a situation will be unacceptable for Israel. In such a case, we will act without delay." Hezbollah is one of the major political and paramilitary groups in Lebanon supported by Tehran. This group is currently providing military support to the government of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war. The ambassador's remarks come shortly after Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's defense minister, threatened that the country could destroy Syria's air defense system. Lieberman stated on Sunday, March 19, that his country "will attack Syria whenever necessary to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah from Syrian territory," adding that "if Syria again endangers Israeli aircraft with its air defenses, Israel will destroy all of Syria's air defense systems." Concurrently with the Israeli ambassador's recent statements in Russia, Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of the Astan Quds Razavi, threatened Israel in a meeting with the head of Hezbollah's Sharia committee, stating that the "Iron Dome missile defense system cannot save Israel from the youth of Hezbollah." According to Tasnim news agency, Ebrahim Raisi, who reports suggest is strengthening his position in Iran's political scene, commented in this meeting that "today, the upper hand in all arenas is with the resistance front." Recently, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, also stated regarding Israel that "you will not see the next 25 years, and God willing, by the next 25 years, there will be nothing left of the Zionist regime." The new U.S. administration has consistently reiterated its commitment to further support Israel against the threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.