Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that the
Hezbollah-dispatched unmanned aerial vehicle that flew over Israel was
sent at Iran’s behest, and was not a Lebanese decision, a statement
issued by Siniora’s press office said on Sunday.
“Sending the
drone over Israel is not a Lebanese decision, however the move was made
at an Iranian behest. Such act needs techniques only available in Iran,”
Lebanese news site The Daily Star quoted Siniora as telling his visitors at his Sidon’s office.
The
former prime minister did not condemn the infiltration, stating
instead: "We are proud of any triumph against the Israeli enemy, however
Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah hasn’t consulted the Lebanese
state about sending a drone over Israel."
He added in the
official statement that such behavior implicates Lebanon in possible
military operations and Israeli reactions that threaten the security of
Lebanese citizens.
“Nasrallah hasn’t asked the Lebanese if they
are prepared to get engaged in such battle or into a war against
Israel,” he said in his statement.
The former prime minister's comments come as a response to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's confirmation for sending a drone aircraft into Israel which was then shot down by the IDF.
Nasrallah
said in a televised speech on the Al- Manar station that the drone was
Iranian-made and that it was shot down near the Dimona nuclear reactor.
“The drone flew over sensitive installations inside southern Palestine,” he said.
Nasrallah claimed the Ayoub drone was designed and manufactured in Iran and assembled in Lebanon, denying reports that the drone was a Russian design.
The
Hezbollah leader said the drone was sent as a response to what he
referred to as Israel's violations of Lebanese airspace since 2006.
Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.