Lebanese army boosting forces along Syrian border

Lebanese newspaper reports that five units have started deploying along border with Syria. Lebanese internal security forces to fill positions held by army which will leave areas it operated in until now

Roee Nahmias |Published: 08.28.06 , 14:34

Starting to apply Resolution 1701? The Lebanese army will reinforce its outposts along the Syrian border, the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir reported Monday morning.

According to the report, which bases itself on information received by Lebanese security forces, five units have started to deploy in a series of outposts in the eastern Jordan Valley and along the border with Syria.

In addition, it was reported that a small number of units have situated themselves in new positions along the towns neighboring the Syrian border and along the border itself.

Security sources reported that the deployment will be carried out in accordance with a decision of the Lebanese government and that the forces will be responsible to prevent the entrance of "forbidden materials" into Lebanon. The same sources added that the forces have started to block dirt roads used by smugglers operating between the two countries. According to them, from now on, they will start sending both foot and motor patrols along the border.

Lebanese security sources added that sending the Lebanese army to areas in which it wasn't previously active is already bearing fruit. According to him, sending the army to the southern part of the country necessitates a renewed deployment of Lebanese internal military forces to take over the positions left by the army who will leave areas it operated in until now.

Only with right of return

In meetings of the security apparatus in government headquarters in Beirut, the decision was made that internal security forces will be deployed in the cities, instead of the army. However, if they need help, they are permitted to summon the Lebanese army.

This isn't the only application of Resolution 1701 being carried out in the country. A senior official of the Fatah movement in Lebanon, Munir al-Maqdah, revealed that Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asked PLO representative in Beirut, Abbas Zaki, to hand over the weapons of the Palestinian organizations operating in territory south of the Litani as part of the application of the UN resolution.

In an interview he gave to Jordanian-newspaper ad-Dustour, al-Maqdah attacked the decision made by the Security Council saying it is an illegitimate resolution.

According to him, every resolution that doesn't include the right of return of the Palestinians will not be recognized by them. Al-Maqdah added that the Palestinians have faith in the UN and the Security Council. He estimated in the next two months the UN will make a new decision that will require Lebanon to settle the Palestinians in Lebanese territory, but noted that such a scenario would never happen.