Sputnik - A missile factory currently being built by Iran in Lebanon will be 50 meters below the ground and fortified against Israeli airstrikes, according to a report by the French media outlet Intelligence Online.


According to�the�report, the factory will comprise of�two facilities. The first facility, located in�Hermel, in�the eastern part of�the Beqaa Valley, will manufacture Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missiles, with�a range of�up to�300 kilometers. The missile is capable of�carrying a 400 kg warhead.


The other facility will be located on�the Lebanese coast between�the cities of�Tyre and Sidon. The facility will manufacture missile parts that will be delivered to�other factories, according to�the report.

These missile factories in�Lebanon have been a headache for�Israel. The Israeli newspaper YediotAhronot recently published a report, citing Education Minister Naftali Bennett. According to�the minister, Israel is considering a preemptive strike on�them since�Israel sees them as�a threat.

Sputnik Persian�sat down�with Emad Abshenass, an Iranian political analyst and editor-in-chief of�Iran Press newspaper, to�discuss the situation.

Abshenass pointed out�that earlier this year Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Lebanon has every right to�build a missile factory in�Lebanon for�nation�s defense needs.
"As a sovereign state Lebanon can do that and no one has the right to�meddle in�its affairs, including Israel. Lebanon is building a missile factory to�defend itself against�external threats, whether they are Israeli strikes or Daesh attacks," the expert said.


He suggested that Israel�s threat to�attack the missile factories in�Lebanon is rhetoric because the Israeli military is incapable of�destroying them.
"Moreover, if Israel decides to�do that it would face a tough response from�Lebanon. In turn, Iran, as�one of�Hezbollah�s main allies, would also engage and provide the Lebanese military with�support. But I think Israel is unlikely to�do that," Abshenass said.


Another reason for�Israeli concerns is that Iran is considering establishing a transportation route to�deliver weapons to�Damascus from�the production sites in�Lebanon. Bennett stressed that Israel will not let Iran implement the initiative.


Abshenass noted that in�fact such a corridor was established long ago and has played an important role in�maintaining Tehran�s presence in�Syria.
"Iran�s active engagement in�Syria and Iraq has significantly helped the Syrian Army in�the fight against�Daesh. In fact, Iran�s involvement helped disturb the plan of�the United States and Israel to�divide Syria and Iraq. This is why Israel is looking for�an excuse to�justify its strikes on�Syria�s territory," the expert said.