Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Oct 8, 2006 13:46:07 GMT -5
UNIFIL will Act Forcefully Against any Hostile Activity
04-10-06
BY: NAHARNET
The U.N. peacekeeping force has strengthened its hold on south Lebanon which had been under Hizbullah control
UNIFIL will Act Forcefully Against any Hostile Activity or Threat
The U.N. peacekeeping force has strengthened its hold on south Lebanon which had been under Hizbullah control until the JulyAugust war with Israel -- by announcing it will "forcefully" act against any hostile activity or threat.
The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Tuesday it could resort to the "use of force beyond self-defense," but did not give details on practical means to prevent "hostile activities" in the area.
UNIFIL's announcement signals a new strategy to establish security and assist the Lebanese army in patrolling a weapons-free zone between the Israeli border and the Litani River, 30 kilometers deep.
It comes after Hizbullah boasted it is still in the south, and Israel warned that it will not tolerate armed fighters along the border as was the case when fighting broke out July 12 after guerrillas crossed the frontier and captured two Israeli soldiers.
Defining the rules of engagement, the statement warned that U.N. commanders "have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind."
Should the situation present any risk of resumption of hostile activities, UNIFIL rules of engagement allow U.N. forces to respond as required," said the statement issued by the command in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL commanders have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind," it said.
All UNIFIL personnel may exercise the inherent right of self-defense. In addition, the use of force beyond self-defense may be applied to ensure that UNIFIL's area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities," the statement warned.
It said the peacekeepers can "resist attempts by forceful means to prevent UNIFIL from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council."
UNIFIL asserted the right to use force beyond self-defense, including the protection of "U.N. personnel, facilities, installations and equipment; to ensure the security and freedom of movement of U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers; and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence in its areas of deployment, within its capabilities."
The U.N. force and the Lebanese army have previously declared they do not intend to pursue and disarm Hizbullah or go after hidden weapons. Israel has demanded the disarmament of the fighters.
But UNIFIL, with some 5,200 troops in the volatile south, says that it along with the Lebanese military will crack down on the flow of weapons into and around south Lebanon. The Lebanese military has deployed 15,000 troops.
The statement said UNIFIL, whose task is to support the Lebanese army which has been deployed in the south for the first time in 30 years, "has set up temporary checkpoints at key locations within its area of operations."
Lebanese troops are establishing "permanent checkpoints ... to stop and search passing vehicles," it said, and would act if specific information is available regarding movement of unauthorized weapons or equipment.
However, in situations where the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) are not in a position to do so, UNIFIL will do everything necessary to fulfill its mandate in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701," it said.
Resolution 1701, which ended the Israel-Hizbullah war on August 14, calls for peacekeepers to ensure the south Lebanon border area with Israel is "free of any armed personnel and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL."
Since the ceasefire, Hizbullah fighters have kept out of uniform, with their weapons out of sight.
Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers have already deployed in most of the areas vacated by Israel, after it withdrew Sunday from nearly all of south Lebanon in line with the cease-fire resolution.
UNIFIL is required to eventually beef-up its forces on the ground in south Lebanon to 15,000 soldiers under the U.N. resolution.
But Israeli troops are still present on the Lebanese side of one border village. UNIFIL has said it was working with both sides to settle the dispute over Ghajar and hopes to resolve it this week.
04-10-06
BY: NAHARNET
The U.N. peacekeeping force has strengthened its hold on south Lebanon which had been under Hizbullah control
UNIFIL will Act Forcefully Against any Hostile Activity or Threat
The U.N. peacekeeping force has strengthened its hold on south Lebanon which had been under Hizbullah control until the JulyAugust war with Israel -- by announcing it will "forcefully" act against any hostile activity or threat.
The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Tuesday it could resort to the "use of force beyond self-defense," but did not give details on practical means to prevent "hostile activities" in the area.
UNIFIL's announcement signals a new strategy to establish security and assist the Lebanese army in patrolling a weapons-free zone between the Israeli border and the Litani River, 30 kilometers deep.
It comes after Hizbullah boasted it is still in the south, and Israel warned that it will not tolerate armed fighters along the border as was the case when fighting broke out July 12 after guerrillas crossed the frontier and captured two Israeli soldiers.
Defining the rules of engagement, the statement warned that U.N. commanders "have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind."
Should the situation present any risk of resumption of hostile activities, UNIFIL rules of engagement allow U.N. forces to respond as required," said the statement issued by the command in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL commanders have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind," it said.
All UNIFIL personnel may exercise the inherent right of self-defense. In addition, the use of force beyond self-defense may be applied to ensure that UNIFIL's area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities," the statement warned.
It said the peacekeepers can "resist attempts by forceful means to prevent UNIFIL from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council."
UNIFIL asserted the right to use force beyond self-defense, including the protection of "U.N. personnel, facilities, installations and equipment; to ensure the security and freedom of movement of U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers; and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence in its areas of deployment, within its capabilities."
The U.N. force and the Lebanese army have previously declared they do not intend to pursue and disarm Hizbullah or go after hidden weapons. Israel has demanded the disarmament of the fighters.
But UNIFIL, with some 5,200 troops in the volatile south, says that it along with the Lebanese military will crack down on the flow of weapons into and around south Lebanon. The Lebanese military has deployed 15,000 troops.
The statement said UNIFIL, whose task is to support the Lebanese army which has been deployed in the south for the first time in 30 years, "has set up temporary checkpoints at key locations within its area of operations."
Lebanese troops are establishing "permanent checkpoints ... to stop and search passing vehicles," it said, and would act if specific information is available regarding movement of unauthorized weapons or equipment.
However, in situations where the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) are not in a position to do so, UNIFIL will do everything necessary to fulfill its mandate in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701," it said.
Resolution 1701, which ended the Israel-Hizbullah war on August 14, calls for peacekeepers to ensure the south Lebanon border area with Israel is "free of any armed personnel and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL."
Since the ceasefire, Hizbullah fighters have kept out of uniform, with their weapons out of sight.
Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers have already deployed in most of the areas vacated by Israel, after it withdrew Sunday from nearly all of south Lebanon in line with the cease-fire resolution.
UNIFIL is required to eventually beef-up its forces on the ground in south Lebanon to 15,000 soldiers under the U.N. resolution.
But Israeli troops are still present on the Lebanese side of one border village. UNIFIL has said it was working with both sides to settle the dispute over Ghajar and hopes to resolve it this week.
