UN Slammed Increase «Israeli» Violations on Lebanon

Local Editor

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez Tuesday released a report critical of "Israeli" violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.

The "Israeli" entity's "violations of Lebanese sovereignty undermine the cessation of hostilities and efforts to reach a permanent cease-fire," Gutierrez wrote.

The report is a periodic assessment of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was approved by the Security Council on Aug. 11, 2006.

Since the agreement was ratified, the "Israeli" entity has violated Lebanon's land, sea and air borders on a near-daily basis.

In the report released Tuesday, Gutierrez observes that from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2017, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon "recorded 758 air violations, totaling 3,188 over-flight hours, an increase of 80 percent compared with the same period in 2016."

The UN report also tackles issues ranging from clashes in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian camp near the southern city of Sidon, the Lebanese Army's battle to rout extremists from the country's northeastern border in August and spillover from the Syrian crisis on Lebanese soil.

Gutierrez goes on to recommend bolstering the authority and strength of Lebanon's state mechanisms.

"Reinforcing the national institutions and army of Lebanon remains the best preventive measure against the risk of conflict," he writes, given that "the Lebanese Armed Forces have proven to be a credible security actor."

Gutierrez called all sides to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and security: "The stability of Lebanon remains a regional public good that must be shielded. The turmoil in the region continues to pose grave risks in this regard."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team