Hezbollah Warns Israel against Drilling in Disputed Waters

Laila Bassam and Maha El Dahan
Monday, October 25, 2021

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah on Friday warned Israel against drilling for oil and gas in the disputed maritime border area between the two countries until the issue is resolved, and said the Iran-backed group would take action if it did so.

"If the enemy thinks they can act as they please before reaching a solution to this issue they are wrong," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

Lebanon's cabinet had raised the question to the United Nations permanent representative and others in the international community after Israel granted U.S. oilfield services group Halliburton an offshore drilling contract in the Mediterranean, asking to clarify whether the drilling would take place in disputed areas. read more

Lebanon and Israel are in dispute over the delineation of their territorial waters and negotiations between the old foes could lead to Lebanon being able to unlock valuable gas reserves amid its worst-ever financial crisis.

Israel already pumps gas from huge offshore fields.

The two countries have been holding on-off U.S. mediated talks since October to try to resolve the issue.

"I will not state any positions on this as I don't want to complicate the negotiations but for sure the resistance in Lebanon at the right time through following this issue when it finds that Lebanese oil and gas is in danger in the disputed area it will act accordingly," Nasrallah said.

The U.S. mediator for the indirect talks, Amos Hochstein, visited Beirut this week and said a period of shuttle diplomacy would proceed any return to indirect talks between the two countries similar to those held in October 2020 at the United Nations' peacekeepers base in Lebanon's Naqoura. read more

(Reporting By Laila Bassam and Maha El Dahan Editing by Chris Reese and Angus MacSwan)

Categories: Middle East Drilling Mediterranean Sea

Related Stories

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Mubadala Energy Open to Sell Andaman Gas for Domestic Use

Mubadala Energy Open to Sell Andaman Gas for Domestic Use

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

Chuditch Gas Field Up for Summer Drilling Ops as Sunda Reshapes Ownership Structure

Chuditch Gas Field Up for Summer Drilling Ops as Sunda Reshapes Ownership Structure

Hanwha Drilling’s Tidal Action Drillship En Route to Petrobras’ Roncador Field

Hanwha Drilling’s Tidal Action Drillship En Route to Petrobras’ Roncador Field

Pakistan’s OGDC to Start Production at ADNOC’s Offshore Block by 2027

Pakistan’s OGDC to Start Production at ADNOC’s Offshore Block by 2027

‘Ultra-Mega’ Offshore Deal for L&T at QatarEnergy LNG’s North Field Gas Scheme

‘Ultra-Mega’ Offshore Deal for L&T at QatarEnergy LNG’s North Field Gas Scheme

Sapura Energy Nets $720M from Multiple Drilling Services Contracts

Sapura Energy Nets $720M from Multiple Drilling Services Contracts

ADNOC Secures LNG Supply Deal with India's BPCL

ADNOC Secures LNG Supply Deal with India's BPCL

Initial Drilling Results Raise Questions on South Korea’s Offshore Gas Viability

Current News

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Fire Contained at Vietnamese Oil Platform Undergoing Decommissioning (Video)

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Set for Drilling Job off Indonesia

Petronas, Inpex Secure Oil and Gas Exploration Rights off Indonesia

Mubadala Energy Open to Sell Andaman Gas for Domestic Use

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Up for Drilling Job Offshore Vietnam

ABS Greenlights SHI’s Multi-Purpose Deepwater LNG Floating Unit

Turkey Discovers New Black Sea Gas Reserve

Indonesia's Medco Starts Production at Natuna Sea Fields

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

photo

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com