Israel-Lebanon Offshore Energy Dispute

U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein is holding discussions in Beirut at the invitation of the Lebanese government after the Greek-owned energy company holding the Israeli lease for the Karish gas field sent a vessel to the area to begin work.

In 2021, the Lebanese government dominated by Hezbollah and its allies had changed their negotiating position on its territorial claim to take in an additional 1,400 square km including the Karish gas field, the so-called Line 29. Until 2020, Lebanon’s dispute with Israel focused on a more modest 860 square km bordered by Line 23. Recent indications from Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s office suggest that they do not have “the technical foundations on which to construct a case for Line 29 because previous governments had failed to produce formal documentation to maintain this position”.

However, Iranian-backed Hezbollah has said that it is willing to take action if Israel continues oil and gas exploration within Lebanon’s recently-expanded maritime claim.