Benjamin Netanyahu: Iran wants to turn Lebanon into a giant missile site

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting. Pic/AP/PTI

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site" and warned of the consequences as he left on Monday for talks in Moscow. Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with President Vladimir Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon. The premier has sought to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory.

Israel's military has also issued warnings to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia backed by Iran. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are all backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war. Netanyahu has previously accused Iran of building sites to produce "precision-guided missiles" in both Syria and Lebanon.

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