Last update - 00:00 02/11/2006
IDF paper: Lebanon overflights aim to pressure int'l community
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
An internal Israel Defense Forces document says the continued air force flights over Lebanon are intended in part to pressure the international community to prevent arms smuggling to Hezbollah and secure the release of IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, a senior Defense Ministry official said Thursday.
The document, titled "Strategic diplomatic messages: the army must continue overflights to secure international pressure," was approved by IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, the official said.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss policy with the press.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aviv Shir-On said setting political objectives is not part of the IDF's tasks.
"I'm not familiar with this document," Shir-On told Army Radio. "But if political goals are indeed defined in an IDF document, this matter must be looked into because ... the IDF is in charge of Israel's security and others are in charge of political goals."
The army had no immediate comment.
IAF jets flew at a low altitude over Beirut, its suburbs and large areas of south Lebanon on Tuesday, witnesses and Lebanese security sources said.
The Lebanese army issued a statement Tuesday saying its gunners fired anti-aircraft artillery at Israel Air Force warplanes as they flew over south Lebanon.
The IDF refused to confirm that its planes had flown over Beirut, saying it does not give operational details.
Several European diplomats warned Israel on Tuesday that its mock air raids over Beirut could encourage Syria and others to violate the UN resolution that ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah.