Israel has begun building a new barrier along its northern border with Lebanon in an effort to thwart future Hezbollah attacks, an Israeli media outlet reported. But it’s where that barrier is being built that’s interesting: under the sea
Israel’s Channel 2 News reported Sunday that plans for the defensive barrier which it described as “giant” were in response to Hezbollah investments in acquiring sea-based weapons and delivery systems that could be used to attack Israeli targets.
Channel 2 further reported that the plans include both a physical barrier and sensors to detect underwater movement.
Israel's Channel 2 showed video of work off the coast of northern Israel to protect against sea-based Hezbollah terrorist attacks. (Screenshot: Channel 2)
Israel’s Channel 2 showed video of work off the coast of northern Israel to protect against sea-based Hezbollah terrorist attacks. (Screenshot: Channel 2)
The Algemeiner, which covers Jewish and Israel news, reported that a similar barrier system is already operating along Israel’s border with Gaza and helped stop an amphibious assault by Palestinian divers during the military conflict this past summer.
The Algemeiner pointed to an interview published earlier this month in Israel Defense with Lt. Col. Ronen Hajaj of the Israeli Navy who expressed more concern about Hezbollah’s Mediterranean Sea plans than those of Hamas coming from Gaza.
He described a misleadingly tranquil scene along the Israel-Lebanon border.
“[T]he other side is engaged in procurement, outfitting, planning – but outwardly everything is quiet and there are vacationers and holidaymakers, while the danger lurks just a few meters away from all the civilians out there. It is a very tense tranquility and sometimes it is interrupted,” Hajaj said.
“The northern sector is much more threatening. Shore-to-sea missiles, antitank missiles and guns that may be used to engage naval targets,” Hajaj said. “Hezbollah has everything planned regarding guns and the deployment of naval radars. The south is nothing compared to the threat we are expecting in the north.”