Hizballah mans ‘guard towers’ across from Israel’s northern border

Hizballah fighters were seen manning guard towers across from Israel's northern border when Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Gady Eisenkot, Northern Command head Aviv Kochavi and other senior officers visited the area on Tuesday. At least two Hizballah fighters were seen photographing the delegation's visit from just several meters from the border fence. Lebanon claims that the nine towers, located across from an area between Moshav Zerit to Rosh Hanikra, were built by the Lebanese army. However, DEBKAfile's sources report that the towers will be used by Hizballah that has complete control over the area, and that the towers have been equipped with advanced photography equipment capable of transmitting high-resolution live video images of the Israeli border area in all weather conditions to Hizballah headquarters in the heart of Beirut. The establishment of the towers on Lebanese territory poses a threat to the IDF's freedom of movement and its ability to surprise the enemy. With each day that the terrorist organization continues to film developments on the Israeli side, there is a growing risk to Israeli communities and to IDF forces operating in the area. The question of how Hizballah's intelligence network knew the exact day and time of the delegation's visit in advance remains unanswered.