BEIRUT - Lebanon's Hezbollah pledged on Wednesday to confront any threats to the country's "oil and gas rights" after Israeli comments urging firms not to bid on a Lebanese offshore energy tender.
"We confirm again our firm and honest position to decisively confront any assault on our oil and gas rights, and protect (Lebanon's) wealth," the Iran-backed Shi'ite political and military movement said in a statement.Israel described as "very provocative" a Lebanese offshore oil and gas exploration tender in disputed territory on the countries' maritime border. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said the comments were one of several "threatening messages" from Israel in recent days.