Israel readies Iron Dome batteries near Lebanon border as Hizbullah ramps up threats

Special to WorldTribune.com

Anticipating a huge influx of cash after the Iran nuclear deal, Hizbullah has ratcheted up its threats on Israel and the Israelis have responded by bolstering their Iron Dome missile defense capabilities at the Lebanon border.

Iron Dome was extremely effective in defending Israel’s south against relentless Hamas rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge. Israel is counting on the same reliability amid new threats from the north.

An 'Iron Dome' short-range missile defense system is positioned near the northern city of Haifa.  /Getty Images
An Iron Dome battery positioned near the northern city of Haifa. /Oren Ziv/Getty Images

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“One of the scenarios could be that, like Hamas, they (Hizbullah) will try and challenge us with a variety of threats simultaneously — which is a great challenge — but we are developing our concepts of operation,” Col. Yoni Saada Marom, commander of Israel’s Active Defense Air Wing, told FoxNews.com.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials said Iron Dome was successful 90 percent of the time in intercepting rockets during last summer’s Gaza war. Marom said that more Iron Dome batteries are now operational than during the Gaza war.

Hizbullah, however, is said to have many times the firepower and technology that Hamas had in 2014. And the Lebanon-based terror group is hoping to receive up to $150 billion from Iran as sanctions are lifted after the nuclear agreement.

“Following the nuclear agreement, the Iranian president and other officials have reiterated that the country’s stances towards Hizbullah would not alter,” Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on July 25. “We say it out loud and with pride, and we thank [Iran] for all the moral and financial support.”

“We feel pride when the U.S., which we consider the Great Satan before and after the nuclear deal, penalizes us because we are defending our country against the Takfiri [Muslim non-believers] and Israeli schemes,” Nasrallah added.

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