UNIFIL peacekeepers find bombs buried near Israel border
Bombs believed to have been buried in southern Lebanon by Hezbollah to strike at IDF troops.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Hezbollah UNIFIL Israel newsUnited Nations peacekeeping forces last week discovered a large number of buried explosive devices in southern Lebanon about a kilometer from the border with Israel.
The well-made bombs, approximately 10 in number, believed to be made either in Iran or Syria, contained a total of about 300 kilograms of explosives. According to sources in Israel, it is believed the devices were placed at the site by Hezbollah to strike at an Israel Defense Forces patrol that might try to enter Lebanon at the site, near the northern Israel town of Metula.
On the night of December 26, a Spanish contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon discovered the bombs while patroling the eastern sector of Southern Lebanon, near the town of Al Khiam. In the area known as Mazra'at Sarda, the UN soldiers, using night vision equipment, saw a number of suspicious figures digging holes in the ground. When the soldiers approached, the figures fled.
A day after the incident, the peacekeeping force issued a statement that its soldiers had found explosives and an investigation had been launched in cooperation with the Lebanese army to ascertain the type of explosives and the identity of those suspected of placing them at the site.
The UNIFIL statement said placing the explosives was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which prohibits possession or use of weapons south of the Litani River by unauthorized persons, meaning other than the Lebanese army or UNIFIL forces.
Senior government officials in Jerusalem said that following the incident Israel approached UNIFIL officials as well as UN Headquarters in New York to make clear that it believes that Hezbollah is behind the incident, rather than World Jihad, which had fired rockets into Israel in recent months.
Israel says the incident is another example of the fact that Hezbollah is avoiding open conflict with UNIFIL and that the UN patrols in open areas near the Israel-Lebanon border are important.
Foreign Minister Director General Yossi Gal is to meet today with UNIFIL commander General Claudio Graziano. The meeting is part of the ongoing talks over Israel's withdrawal from the northern part of the village of Ghajar. The parties also met on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.
Gal, who is the head of the Israeli negotiating team on Ghajar, is expected to congratulate Graziano on finding the explosives and to make clear that the incident once again shows that Hezbollah is involved in armed action south of the Litani in violation of Resolution 1701.
The discovery of the Hezbollah explosives is another in a series of incidents in Southern Lebanon in past months that have raised the level of tension on Israel's northern border. The most serious incident took place in July when a large Hezbollah weapons store blew up in the village of Hirbet Salim, south of the Litani River.
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UNIFIL troops monitoring the border between Lebanon and IsraeL. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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You sitill haven't explained how the planting of bombs 1 kilometre inside Lebanon threatens Israel. Hezbollah should be fully integrated into Lebanese government infrastructure. Surelky you agree that Lebanon would be better off as a single entity with all it's peoples working together for a common goal. Hopefull prosperity for the Lebanese people.
It is not following the national 'Party Line' to report that UNIFIL is trying hard to do it's job. The party line has been that the UN is part of the vast islamofascist conspiracy. "Israel says the incident is another example of the fact that Hezbollah is avoiding open conflict with UNIFIL and that the UN patrols in open areas near the Israel-Lebanon border are important." - Haaretz Perhaps the party line is changing. Where will this leave those on the extreme right who believe deeply that the UN is dedicated to the destruction of Israel? "Senior government officials in Jerusalem said that following the incident Israel approached UNIFIL officials as well as UN Headquarters in New York to make clear that it believes that Hezbollah is behind the incident, rather than World Jihad, which had fired rockets into Israel in recent months." - Haaretz They will be ok, party line isn't changing that much. They will be able to preserve their delusions about the UN as anti-Israel.
The UN is a Moslem top heavy institution that has proved repeatedly that they cannot be trusted.
is responsible for them as they have few seats in the official government. Lebanon have two chance: 1. They become independent from Syria and Hezbollah and Lebanon will turn back to the golden age. 2 They do not prevent Hezbollah to attack Israel your country will pay again a heavy price. Israel is violating 1701 resolution doing aerial reconnaissance this only because for Hezbollah the long arms of Iran and Syria are still armed and with very bad intention the word peace for them doesn't exist in the vocabulary. Regarding the comments coming from Chris Linthwaite and potobac is a classic attempt of climbing the mirrors. Dan is right Hezbo will bring disaster,instead to protect Lebanon from the Zionist enemy they wish to use it for the martyrdom , in the fundamentalist eyes everyone is spendable even those who are not sharing the same sentiment. It's time for now the Lebanese government to take the right decision in the best interest of most of the Lebanese population
How does planting bombs a kilometre from the border from Israel inside Lebanon threaten Israel?
Don't say that. Israel needs to create an atmosphere where it can give the impression it is continually under threat. Budget talks have started in Washington.
if Hezbollah was made an official part of the Lebanese Army. Afterall Israel has stated that it considers Hezbollah to be part of the Lebanese Government anyway. And the NATO forces currently operating in UNIFIL would be better employed in Afghanistan, where Israel is very noticable by it's absence. In fact it would be in everyone's interests if Hezbollah was fully intergrated into Lebanon's civilian and military infrastructure at a more formal level. Then they could plant bombs a kilometre from the Israeli border to their hearts content.
This is exactly why we need them. Hezbo will disregard any agreement or authority except for the one coming from Iran. And they will not stop attacks against Israel until Israel is wiped out of the map. Since we have no plans to do so, they will continue until Israel will have to finish them off. Gloves will be taken off. Remember this.
Mark my words.
Note that these explosives are no threat to Israel as long as it stays on the right side of the border.