Gantz, Herzog Threaten Israel Will Step Up Responses If Iranian Attacks Continue

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the country is prepared to assist Lebanon amid its spiraling financial crisis, but at the same time won’t accept further attacks on its border, after a barrage of rockets was fired at northern Israel by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group last week.

“The crisis in Lebanon is devastating. The State of Israel calls on the international community to aid Lebanon. We are also willing to provide assistance. However, we will not let the tragedy in Lebanon cross the border into Israel,” Gantz said on a visit to the Israel Defense Forces’ Northern Command.

Lebanon is grappling with a raft of shortages, including gasoline, and the government is discussing lifting subsidies it can no longer afford, amid what the World Bank said is one of the worst financial crises since the 1850s.

The local currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value on the black market, and Lebanese state electricity companies are providing less than five hours of electricity a day in most areas, as they struggle to come up with the foreign currency for fuel imports.

On Friday, 19 rockets were fired at the Golan Heights and Galilee Panhandle from Lebanon. The IDF said 10 projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system and six landed in open areas around Mount Dov. Another three rockets failed to clear the border and landed in Lebanese territory.