Israel ‘may postpone’ drilling in disputed gas field after Hezbollah threats

Israel may postpone drilling in the disputed Karish gas field in the eastern Mediterranean due to threats from Hezbollah, Israeli television's Channel 13 reported on Wednesday.

The gas-rich Karish field in the eastern Mediterranean is claimed by both Israel and Lebanon, who remain technically in a state of war.

The two countries are currently engaged in US-mediated talks to resolve the dispute and agree on a maritime boundary.

However, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has said that if Lebanon was stopped from extracting oil and gas from its waters, "nobody" would be able to do so.

It has launched drones towards the gas fields, which Israel has shot down.

Channel 13 reported on Wednesday that the Israeli cabinet held a security meeting where "a very long presentation regarding Hezbollah threats to the Karish platform took place".

"The ministers were informed that it was possible that extracting gas from the Karish platform could be postponed. The planned date for extracting gas from Karish is September… but it is not confirmed that this will actually take place then," the channel said.

The Israeli military and intelligence services also warned cabinet ministers that if no agreement were reached with Lebanon, "there could be an escalation with Hezbollah".

Lebanon, Israel, and US mediators have expressed optimism regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement over the disputed gas-rich field, but Israel and Hezbollah have fought deadly wars in the past.

Hezbollah recently released a video of the Karish field, in a message to Israel suggesting it would take military action if the latter tried to drill for gas there without first coming to an agreement with Lebanon.