Israeli Defense Minister: Islamic Republic has built an airport in Southern Lebanon to attack Israel

Yoav Galant, Israel's Defense Minister, accused the Islamic Republic of Iran on Monday of constructing an airport in Southern Lebanon for the purpose of attacking Israel. During remarks at an international security conference hosted by Reichman University, he presented aerial images of what he described as an airport built by the Islamic Republic to pursue 'terrorist objectives' against Israel. The Israeli Defense Minister, without providing details, stated that this airport has the capacity to host medium-sized aircraft. The location of this airport is near the village of Birkat Jabour and the town of Jazin in Lebanon, approximately 20 kilometers north of the Israeli city of Metula. Reuters quoted an 'unidentified non-Israeli source familiar with the site' as saying that this airport could be used to deploy Iranian military drones, some of which are armed. The source added that the drones stationed at this airport could be used for both internal and external operational activities, but given the nature and direction of the runway, the former is more likely. Reuters reported that the source indicated Hezbollah has made significant investments in drone technology. Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic have yet to respond to Galant's statements. Iran's nuclear and missile programs and its support for terrorist groups, primarily Hezbollah, are among the main concerns for Israel. Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist organization by several Western countries, although some countries are reluctant to sanction the political branch of the group, fearing that such actions could lead to further instability in Lebanon and disrupt contact with government officials. Hezbollah Lebanon was established in 1982 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized the entirety of this group as a terrorist organization. Recognizing Hezbollah Lebanon as a terrorist organization implies no distinction between its political and military branches, classifying both as terrorist entities.