Elias Murr
Photo: API
Lebanon: We'll shoot Israeli planes
Elias Murr emphasizes that Lebanese army has clear orders to shoot any Israeli plane that enters Lebanon; also reports on deployment of divisions along Syrian border to prevent smuggling
Lebanon's Defense Minister Elias Murr said that four divisions of the Lebanese Army have been deployed along the Syrian-Lebanese border and have been able to halt the smuggling of arms to Hizbullah.
In an interview with the London-based al-Hayat Arabic-language newspaper Murr said that "the Lebanese army has been deployed along the border (with Syria), on the mountains and in the valleys. "I am emphasizing that there are 8,600 soldiers, which are more than four divisions deployed in the area. There has not been any instance of a violation, even smuggling of oil, cigarettes, and other products from Lebanon to Syria and vice-versa."
When asked about Lebanon's planned reaction to a possible Israeli border violation, he said that there are clear orders to open fire on Israeli Air Force aircraft that fly in Lebanese airspace. "After the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy, there are two types of violations: those which violate the "blue line" which we will set in coordination with the UN next week once Israel returns to the outposts they have been maintaining since 2000, and violations which happen from the air. There are clear orders from the army command to fire at any plane which enters Lebanese airspace. As to the political realm – we are sending complaints to the UN on a daily basis about these violations."
Murr expressed his hopes that "these violations will end soon, and if not, the Lebanese army will stand up to them with all of the necessary measures in preparations for the next few months when we will receive new missiles against aircraft, ships, and land forces."
Earlier this week Murr said that the Lebanese army has recently confiscated weapons from the hands of the Hizbullah. In a press conference in Beirut Murr said that "it is a natural thing. It is our duty to confiscate the weapons."
"The Lebanese army is deployed in the south in order to defend the border and prevent from any other armed group to hold weapons and act in the area. What we can say is that the Hizbullah is cooperating in not making itself present in the south of the country," Murr said.
