LEBANON: UNIFIL commander reacts to reports that Israeli forces captured four men during a raid in southern Lebanon

On the sidelines of a medal ceremony for troops of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday (September 8) UNIFIL Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini spoke out about an Israeli army raid into southern Lebanon. Israeli troops detained four armed men on Friday in a southern Lebanese village controlled by Israel since its recent offensive against Hizbollah. An Israeli army spokesman said the four were being questioned after surrendering to soldiers patrolling the village of Aita al-Shaab, near the Israeli border. There was no immediate word on their identities. "It's a violation... First of all, it's a violation of the Blue line. It is a violation of the ceasefire, because they should have frozen all actions. So, they go against everything that had been established," Pellegrini reacted, referring to the U.N. defined border between Israel and Lebanon. Pellegrini spoke after giving medal to French soldiers who have been under the commandment of the UNIFIL for ninety days. Two hundred and fifty french soldiers attended the ceremony on Place de France -- France square -- in the middle of the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. On the side of the square, a miniature Eiffel Tower has been build that lit up at night. The troops are part of the existing contingent for the UNIFIL, and do not belong to revamped UNIFIL forces. The French troops who will contribute to the revamped UNIFIL -- subbed UNIFIL II by the Lebanese press -- are set to arrive in Beirut on Saturday (September 9). Israel has been gradually withdrawing forces from Lebanon after a ceasefire on Aug. 14 halted 34 days of war triggered by a Hizbollah raid in which two Israeli soldiers were abducted. But residents of Lebanon's southern villages said this week that Israeli incursions have continued since the truce, and that Israeli troops have also occasionally detained Lebanese men and released them after questioning. Asked if the UNIFIL would have the mandate to disarm Hizbollah, Pellegrini said "The disarmament of Hizbollah is a matter for Lebanon's home politic. And as far as we are concerned, we may disarm only in our zone of operation - that's to say between the Litani (river) and the Blue Line. So, everything that is North of the Litani (river) doesn't concern us." Pellegrini then added that his forces would be able to disarm from Hizbollah members to Israeli soldiers. International forces have also taken over control of the waters off Lebanon after the lifting of an eight-week long blockade on Lebanon by Israel. Israel lifted the blockade on Friday (September 8) after an interim maritime task force led by Italy deployed off the Lebanese coast, the commander of U.N. peacekeepers said. "Who will command ? For the moment, we have a temporary naval force under the control of the Italians, and UNIFIL demand a certain number of tasks. Whereas in fifteen days, when the Germans will be there, they will take over the commandment of the navy force of the UNIFIL -- in fact, it's a force I will be place under my direct commandment." An Italian admiral will command the interim force until a naval task force from the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is deployed. UNIFIL said it had established a naval operations centre to coordinate all operational details. A UNIFIL spokesman said four Italian ships were currently supporting the Lebanese navy in monitoring Lebanon's territorial waters. France said it will supply two frigates, complete with helicopters, and a transport vessel for the surveillance force. The Italian and French naval vessels are expected to patrol the coast until a German-led naval contingent can take over in line with a Lebanese request to the United Nations.

ITN Source | September 9, 2006

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