Israel's Renewed Warning About Arms Shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon

Following reports of another Israeli attack on Syrian territory, an Israeli minister on Thursday, November 2, without confirming the incident, reiterated warnings about arms shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Just hours earlier, Reuters reported, citing a commander of pro-Bashar Assad forces, that an Israeli aircraft bombed a copper factory near the city of Homs. According to this report, Syrian army forces fired surface-to-air missiles at the Israeli aircraft in response to the attack. The industrial town of Hsia is located 31 kilometers south of Homs and 112 kilometers north of Damascus. Details of the attack are still unclear, and no reports have emerged regarding casualties or damages, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in London states that the target of the airstrike was 'a military structure.' While the Israeli army spokesperson refrained from confirming or denying the news, Reuters, citing Israel's Channel 10, reported that the Israeli aircraft returned to its base 'safe and sound' after the attack. Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Information, also avoided confirming or denying the news on Thursday but reiterated a warning that the Benjamin Netanyahu government has stated several times. Katz said, 'I cannot, of course, talk about reports of the army's attack in Syria, but Israel's position is clear: arms trafficking for Hezbollah is our red line.' According to Katz, Israel's red line, in addition to arms smuggling, also includes 'Iran's stabilization in Syria.' The Israeli minister further stated that his country would prevent 'smuggling' of arms for Hezbollah 'based on the information we receive.' Previously, in September, the Jerusalem Post reported that Israel had increased its attacks on Syria with the motivation of preventing Iran's military strengthening and the establishment of its foothold and Hezbollah near the borders of Syria with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated in his recent speech at the United Nations that his country would not allow Iran and Hezbollah to continue 'terrorist activities' from Syrian territory aimed at 'striking Israel.' Reuters, citing the Israeli Air Force, reported that Israeli aircraft have attacked arms convoys for the Syrian army and Hezbollah 'nearly a hundred times' in recent years. In this context, the Israeli army announced on October 16 that it had 'destroyed' a Syrian army air defense system in an airstrike. On September 22, Middle Eastern media reported another airstrike on a military warehouse near Damascus airport, attributing this attack to Israel.