UNIFIL in Contact with Army over Hizbullah Armed Appearance near Border
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Friday that contacts were underway with the Lebanese army following media reports about the presence of Hizbullah gunmen during the media tour organized Thursday by Hizbullah along the border with Israel.
"Shortly before the media delegation reached the area yesterday morning, the Lebanese army notified UNIFIL of a media tour along the Blue Line, without mentioning any other detail," UNIFIL said in a statement carried by the National News Agency's English-language website.
"As to reports speaking of the presence of armed individuals among the delegation, UNIFIL reminds that this would be a breach of resolution 1701; and as per the resolution, the Lebanese authorities bear the main responsibility to verify the presence of unauthorized armed individuals in the area between the Blue Line and Litani River," the statement read.
"Following those reports, the UNIFIL is holding contacts with the Lebanese Armed Forces to determine the circumstances of what happened," it concluded.
Hizbullah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006, on Thursday brought dozens of journalists on a rare and highly-choreographed trip to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.
"This tour is to show the defensive measures that the enemy is taking," said Hizbullah spokesman Mohamed Afif, on a hilltop along the so-called Blue Line.
A military commander identified as Haj Ihab, dressed in digital camouflage and sunglasses, said the Israeli army was erecting earth berms up to 10 meters high, as well as reinforcing a military position near the Israeli border town of Hanita.
Thursday's tour sought to paint Israel as afraid of a new conflict, while depicting Hizbullah as ready for war despite having committed thousands of its fighters to bolstering Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.
Journalists were taken from the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, with Hizbullah fighters in full military regalia stationed along the route alongside the group's yellow flag -- despite a ban by Resolution 1701 on any armed paramilitary presence in southern Lebanon.
Faces smeared with black and green camouflage, the fighters stood silently holding guns and RPG launchers.
"We do not fear war, we don't hesitate to confront it. We yearn for it and we will confront it if it is imposed on us, and God willing we will win," Haj Ihab told the reporters, reciting a famous statement for Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
7 years
Keep complaining about 1701, it means nothing.
Aslong as the U.S puts sanctions on the Lebanese Army if they receive weapons from Russian and Iran, then Hezbollah will continue to arm itself in it's place.
7 years
show us where the " U.S puts sanctions on the Lebanese Army if they receive weapons from Russian and Iran" ya heretic and taking liar.
7 years
He listeraly answered your question in his comment. You are slow bud.
7 years
The vermins whine again, what a sight.
7 years
now 1701 means nothing ya heretic twelver? you begged for it in 2006
7 years
Did any body see the photos? They're kids soldiers just like in Soudan and Boko Haram! My dear Lebanese compatriots, our country has been hijacked and is on the path that leads to self destruction. Aux armes citoyens! Formez vos bataillons!
Filthy Iranian militia.
7 years
@i.r
Of course they are! The rest of'em is in body bags... or mutilated...
My sources told me 2 to 2.5K dead and 5K injured...
7 years
Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons !
7 years
Les fous de Dieu (mais quel Dieu prône leur idéologie tarée?) Sont des fous, leur place est à l'asile. Ce sont des bons à rien, leurs aïeux, certes illettrés, étaient paysans utiles et indispensables, mais les nouvelles générations ne sont que de bons à rien. Ils ne sèment que haine et mort. Alors, oui, qu'ils abreuvent nos sillons ou qu'on les enferment.
7 years
Ça fait du bien de lire des commentaires et des réflexions de bon sens!
7 years
Oh je pense que la majorité des gens partagent ce jugement, le hic se situe au niveau des politiques qui manquent de courage. Nul besoin de discours belliqueux, mais comme le pays est gouverné par un cartel... il n'y a plus rien a espérer. Je crains qu'une sanglante revolution s'impose.
7 years
Correct Galaxy, those Ebolla Pussy Cats Begged for it and fell back the litani River like kittens...
7 years
and Hariri and his puppet government are not concerned with the terror militia's actions.
7 years
He lives in Paris or Ryad. He's safe.... Unlike the real Lebanese who suffer daily.
but the lying iranian militia only yesterday said it's media stunt was coordinated with both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army?