Benjamin Netanyahu (archive image)
Photo: Abir Sultan / picture alliance / dpa
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the United Nations about the alleged existence of a secret Hezbollah weapons depot in downtown Beirut.
"Another explosion could happen there," said Netanyahu on Tuesday at the general debate at the UN General Assembly via a pre-recorded video message.
In the Lebanese capital, Beirut, a violent detonation at the port killed more than 190 people and injured more than 6,000 others.
The explosion is said to have been triggered by large amounts of highly explosive ammonium nitrate.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah immediately accused Netanyahu of lying about the weapons depot and an alleged missile factory.
He announced on television that evening that he would invite media representatives to the supposed location.
At the same time he warned Netanyahu against turning the Lebanese against Hezbollah.
"We know very well where we are putting our missiles," he said.
The Shiite Hezbollah organization, which is very influential in Lebanon, controls the south of the country.
Lebanon and Israel are officially still at war.
Tensions between the Israeli army and Hezbollah continue to arise on the common border.
It is closely allied with Iran and, like Tehran, sees Israel as an archenemy.
The UN general debate, which has been running since September 22nd - with a two-day break in between - should come to an end on Tuesday after representatives of all 193 member states had spoken.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the speeches were not given live at the UN headquarters in New York, but via pre-recorded videos.
The otherwise usual numerous side events and bilateral meetings have been reduced to a few online events due to the pandemic.
Icon: The mirror
pgo / dpa