Israel’s UN ambassador told the Security Council on Monday that Lebanon’s Hezbollah is “trying to gain strength and build up weapons with the assistance of Iran”, declaring that the militants pose a “serious threat” to Israel and regional stability. Are made.
US intelligence updated last month – reported by Reuters – warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah would likely try to rebuild its reserves and forces, posing a long-term threat to the US and its regional allies.
After more than a year of conflict, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US-brokered 60-day ceasefire from November 27. According to the terms, the Lebanese army would be deployed to southern Lebanon as Israeli forces and Hezbollah forces withdraw.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement.
“Although Hezbollah’s military capabilities were significantly diminished during the war, they are now attempting to gain strength and build up weapons with Iran’s assistance,” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon wrote to the 15-member Security Council.
Hezbollah and Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Danon’s comments. A senior Lebanese source close to Hezbollah denied the allegations.
Danon said it is “imperative” that the Lebanese government and the international community focus on “curbing the smuggling of arms, ammunition and financial aid across the Syria-Lebanon border and through air and sea routes”.
“Since the ceasefire agreement, there have been numerous attempts to transfer weapons and cash to Hezbollah,” Danon wrote in the letter seen by Reuters. He said Hezbollah’s ongoing military buildup was at times close to UN peacekeeping bases and patrols in southern Lebanon.
Danon wrote, “Despite this, UNIFIL interpreted its mandate liberally and did not take all necessary actions to ensure that its area of operations was not used for any form of hostile activities.”
Israel has long been critical of UN peacekeepers, known as UNIFIL and authorized by the Security Council – under Resolution 1701 – to ensure the south of the country is cleared “in addition to any armed personnel, property and weapons”. “The Government of Lebanon to “assist” the Lebanese Forces in carrying out the “Government of Lebanon.”
Top UN officials have repeatedly stressed that UNIFIL has a supporting role and cannot be blamed for the parties’ failure to implement Resolution 1701.
Danon said, “We are concerned that lessons have not been learned, and today, we are seeing another refusal by the force to adapt to Hezbollah’s changing modalities… as well as to fully implement its mandate.” They are also denying it.”
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