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UN force in Lebanon says no evidence of weapon smuggling

The head of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon is pushing back after US and Israeli criticism of the mission, saying Wednesday that his force has no evidence that weapons are being illegally transferred to the Hezbollah-dominated south.

 

The UN Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the force, known as UNIFIL, which is due to expire Aug. 31. US and Israel officials have called for improvements in its efforts to prevent Hezbollah from expanding its arsenal following the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.

 

Maj. Gen. Michael Beary defended the 10,500-strong force, saying it has successfully maintained the peace for more than a decade, and prevented any major "misunderstandings" from erupting between Israel and Hezbollah.

 

"We should not be looking to upset that," the Irish commander told The Associated Press on Wednesday aboard the Brazilian flagship for the UNIFIL maritime force.

 

He said his force's mandate is "viable" and has enabled his mission to deploy south of the Litani river and along most of the 110-kilometer (68-mile) frontier between Israel and Lebanon. It also allows for patrols and helicopter reconnaissance missions.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.23.17, 20:46