Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has strongly denied claims of low missile interceptor stocks. He also dismissed reports of planned direct talks with Lebanon. These statements came on Sunday. Regional tensions are high due to attacks from Iran and its allies.
Minister Saar's comments disagree with a recent report by Semafor. The report said Israel told Washington about low interceptor levels. This is worrying because Israel has faced many aerial attacks. Iran has sent many missiles and drones towards Israel. Some missiles carried cluster munitions. The number of attacks has decreased slightly. However, this still puts pressure on Israel's air defence.
Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran, fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel. This happened after Iran's leader was killed. An Israeli military source also denied any lack of interceptors. They said the army is ready for a long fight.
Minister Saar also denied reports about talks with Lebanon. Some reports suggested discussions were happening to reduce tension. An Israeli newspaper mentioned this. A former minister visited Saudi Arabia to explore options for Lebanon. Israel believes talks with Lebanon will only happen after the fight with Hezbollah ends.
The claims about missile shortages are being watched closely. They show the importance of air defence. Maintaining these systems is costly and difficult. Minister Saar's denial aims to reassure people. However, the ongoing reports show the serious security situation. Israel faces a difficult choice between military action and diplomacy.