Lebanon army reportedly fires at IAF drone, amid rising tensions
Report: Lebanese military chief orders heightened security after Israeli violations in the 'air, land and sea.'
By Jack Khoury Tags: Hezbollah UNIFIL Lebanon Israel newsLebanon's army said it opened fire on an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle on Saturday afternoon, forcing the drone to leave Lebanese airspace amid rising tensions between the neighbors.
According to the report, the drone had been flying above the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbail, where Israel Defense Forces troops engaged Hezbollah guerillas in a fierce battle during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
After troops directed anti-aircraft fire at the unmanned aerial vehicle, the Lebanese army said, the drone rose to a higher altitude and then left Lebanese airspace.
The army's announcement came shortly after London based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that Lebanon's military chief said he would heighten border security in fear of an Israeli attack.
General Jean Qahwaji warned Lebanese soldiers to "be more aware when traveling along the border," in case of an Israeli attack on Lebanese territory.
The order was given, Qahwaji said, in order to "continue to compete with Israeli violations in the air, land and sea."
"[Lebanon] must continue to work with UNIFIL forces in order to guard UN resolution 1701," the general said.
Resolution 1701 effectively ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 by setting out guidelines for both sides, and the UN force, to observe.
"Lebanon will continue to work to free the land that is still under Israeli occupation including the Shaba Farms and part of the village of Rajar," Qahwaji said.
Report: Lebanon arrests another suspected Israel spy
A Lebanese military court last week sentenced to death a first sergeant in the country's Internal Security Forces charged with spying on behalf of Israel and reportedly arrested another citizen suspected of the same charge.
Last spring, Lebanon arrested close to 20 alleged members of six espionage cells suspected of transmitting intelligence information to Israel. The two-month crackdown was apparently aided by American training and equipment.
Lebanese sources attributed last weeks arrests to improved cooperation between Lebanon's many security agencies, saying that with the help of better-trained personnel and access to more sophisticated equipment, the Internal Security Forces have been intensifying their efforts to uncover espionage networks as part of an attempt to develop a pan-Lebanese image.
The Internal Security Forces have long been accused of representing the interests of Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, son of slain prime minister Rafik Hariri, and his supporters.
Last spring, Lebanon arrested close to 20 alleged members of six espionage cells suspected of transmitting intelligence information to Israel. The two-month crackdown was apparently aided by American training and equipment.
The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006, including $410 million in security assistance to the Lebanese military and police. But U.S. officials have said they would review aid to Lebanon depending on the results of the June 7 election, which could oust the U.S.-backed government.
Israel has expressed reservations about American aid to the Lebanese army and security services, saying those organizations will ultimately be unable to contend with Hezbollah and that any aid is liable to serve Hezbollah's interest.
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Lebanese soldiers marching during a parade in downtown Beirut in 2008. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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israel should think would they like it if lebanon was to go into there country and war on them and kill there people and have there country destroys i am shore they wouldn't so if you don't like it happening to you than don't do it to other
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This has been going on in the middle east for the past 61 years. Everyone blames the other for a never ending cycle of violence fueled by ambitions for power by extremists. Hizbullah is armed because Lebanon fears the early 1970s when the PLO almost took over the government. Israel wants to leave the Palestinian refugees in camps in Lebanon because it fears that the balance of power will be tipped otherwise. Iran and Syria continue to feed on the crisis to angle power out of the crisis. But, in the end, Lebanon and Israel are the real losers - both countries lose millions and millions of dollars when war breaks out - tourism is important to both countries. Oh my God, what kind of money would come in if the countries actually made peace and coordinated tourism programs. Lebanon is beautiful and Israel is the Holy Land. The two countries together could really do something good together if they stop becoming victim to extremism.
I think the Boo has been reversed since 2000.
It was Lebanon, in conjunction with four other Arab armies, plus Palestinian Irregulars, that first attacked Israel in 1948, they're still at war, a war which they initiated Bringing matters fairly up-to-date, It was Hezbollah in Lebanon, that started the Last round between Lebanon & Israel, requiring Israeli retaliation, much to the detriment of Lebanon Afterwards, UNIFIL was supposed to control the inflow of arms into Lebanon, they didn't Thus Israel uses drones for self defense, since neither UNIFIL or Lebanon's words are worth two cents It's time you woke to reality and stopped writing utter nonsense, which is readily refuted by anyone willing to do a modicum of research
Lebanon army is by conception and design is made to protect the regime which is siding with Israel, openly or otherwise. So, they will miss the target even if it is a paper plane. Had Hezbullah been on charge, it would not allow these daily Israel incursions and mockery of Lebanon soverinity, UNIFL closes the eyes, off course.
Israel won't give the Golan back due to the water it is taking illegally. Same for the Farms in Lebanon. Israel does not want peace. If it did it would negotiate at once with Syria and give back the Golan. It would tame the settlers and get them back to the Green Line. But Israel will probably invade because the Army of Lebanon is poised at the border with hundreds of thousands of men, tank, etc., etc.all carrying buckets in which to escape with water.
... why you do worry, because you're not. No Israeli overflights for no Hezbollah hanky panky on your side of the border. When you see IAF aircraft above for no real valid reason and Hezbollah thugs are gainfully employed with real jobs and actually doing something good in Lebanon, then let Israel and the world know about the illegal IAF activity (actually you won't have to because there'll be no violations to complain about).
but what is the Lebanese Army good at? Grilling shishlik and baking pitas?
Well said. But one thing for peacewrecker Bibi to consider... Resupply and refinance will not be the normal rubber stamp from the US that Israel has always counted on in the past. Bibi will soon learn that tweaking the nose and giving wedgies to the principal benifactor and protector of Eretz Israel will cost him more than he could ever dream. He pulled a similar, more subtle deal with Clinton during his dark days of Lewinskygate. Noted here in haaretz, and no other newssource was the fact that a much anticipated dress down Bibi was to recieve in his Washington visit was pre-empted with "rumors" of illegally intercepted intimate phone calls between Bill and Lewinsky. Must have been good for lots of snickers back in Israel. Now, his wife is the voice of foreign policy for the US, and I suspect Obama's response of his lack of amusement will be on the subtle side as well. Oh well, we reap what we sow, and what comes around, goes around, elbow, elbow, snicker snicker at the state dept :)
Fool me once...
If you think Hezbollah drove the IDF out of southern Lebanon you are an idiot. The IDF could have militarily occupied southern Lebanon indefinitely if it wanted to. Lebanon declared war on Israel in 1948. LEBANON NEVER DECLARED PEACE. LEBANON IS STILL IN A STATE OF WAR WITH ISRAEL. Hezbollah controls southern Lebanon as a state within a state. Lebanon's military should attack and defeat Hezbollah and reclaim some national dignity. How could Lebanon even make peace with Israel if the Lebanese don't exercise sovereignty over their whole country? Most Hezbollah fighters ran away when Israel attacked in 2006, those that didn't run away were annihilated.
Many Israeli officials are getting paid by Washington to hold off any attacks to protect itself while Washington continues to carve up Israeli territory and hand it over to Egypt,Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah factions.
who are pro-Hizbullah.. If war breaks out again, IDF will hit hard at the Lebanese army that has primitive world war II era weapons.. Let the game began!
'Netanyahu`s paranoid tendecies would indicate that he will not be happy with the thought of a peaceful united Lebanon on the northern border. He will be hearing voices saying that Lebanon is plotting against Israel. Not to mention a war would be handy to put off calls for a two state solution.' Your last reason is probably the most compelling. While I'm sure Israel will find a pretext to attack SOMEBODY, it doesn't really matter who, nor does it matter what they did or if they did it. Israel has to fend off the threat of peace. War solves all her problems -- so there will be war.
Israel won't be happy until it inflames the conflict with Lebanon... blazing a trail to Lebanon's rivers!
The article said Lebanese army fired on the drone. It was Hezzbola that drove Israel out of Lebanon, not the Lebanese army
Good job, this is how it should be. The Lebanese army has the right to defend the Lebanese air from the ongoing abuse of Israeli airplanes. No where in the world such autrocity and abuse is known. Israel, peotected by usa veto in the Un consuls abuse all international laws! This has to stop.
I remember observing the Lebanese military observing the precision they are comparable to the USA Silent Marine Corp Drill Team. Phenominal acuracy. We sent some unman drones up not to spy but to get the lay of the land. Water being in shortage in the Middle East is the key and after observing the land flow I observed a National Geographic movie of Volcanos that had a chute for lava flow. Maybe a chute for water run offs would be a good idea. We need to prepare for PEACE and strive to find resources from each other. We had drill teams with competitive units in squads and platoons for our pre military in the USA that I trained with like the Marine Corp Silent Drill Team could we begin non violent competitions of each nations ability to compete once a year. Do we have that already. May Israel sponsor such an event.Imagine Israel as a Switzerland to the world.Neutral for PEACE and NO MORE war but mind thought and maybe we need to create a JOSEPH FOUNDATION for the future.Rankoo
If they can't hit a slow flying drone, they will never hit a jet.
Israel's destruction. What a transparent game. Lebanon is peaceful, has no aggresive intentions with Israel, but a part of the Lebanese government and the controlling military force in Lebanon is sworn to Israel's destruction and aid and abets Hams which is sworn to the same end. Hey, Israel should permit the setting up of a group sworn to Leanon's destruction and then plead how innocent it is. Proposterous, eh.
Without Hezbollah, Lebanon would still be occupied, south of the Litani, with Lebanese water being piped to Israel. Hezbollah drove the IDF out after 22 years occupation. Grabbing southern Lebanon has been a Zionist aim since 1948.
Before they attack Israel to prevent an imminent Israeli aggression? :)
Even more... Israel is the promised land for the chosen people!
Good to see some israelis enjoy a sense of humor... unless you were serious of course!
Without Hezbollah, Lebanon has nothing to fear from Israel,
only Israel is the one human and moral country in the world....
Netanyahu's paranoid tendecies would indicate that he will not be happy with the thought of a peaceful united Lebanon on the northern border. He will be hearing voices saying that Lebanon is plotting against Israel. Not to mention a war would be handy to put off calls for a two state solution. It would also be a good job creation exercise, with unemployment in Israel running at about 10% and the military taking up at lest 50% of the budget, Netanyahu unable to pass a budget he must be feeling the pinch and one way of ensuring his name is on the PMO's door is to unite the coalition behind him.
BOO!