Russia has reportedly warned Lebanon that it is “forbidden” to tamper with the UN Resolution 1701 , Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Monday.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was intended to resolve the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah
The resolution calls for disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon (implying Hezbollah, which is the only armed militia in Lebanon )
Asharq al-Awsat said that the “Russians have sent a message to the Lebanese side saying it’s forbidden to tamper with the resolution related to the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border.”
The remarks come after the recent Russian-Israeli Military Security Committee meeting, during which Tel Aviv provided Moscow with details of the tunnels that were recently discovered across the border.
Apart from Hezbollah’s responsibility for the tunnels, the Russian side has reportedly asked Lebanon to deal with the issue through three proposals, the daily quoted unnamed sources as saying.
The first is the need to maintain the rules of engagement in the area covered by 1701, and to instruct the Lebanese army to deal with the matter and remove the causes of tension, which constitutes a commitment to the decision issued after the July 2006 war, they said.
They noted that the subject will be on the table of the Security Council within two days, to condemn “the tunnel issue.”
1701 required all armed groups except the official Lebanese military to remain north of the Litani River following the end of the 2006 War.
“No armed forces other than UNIFIL and Lebanese Army will be south of the Litani River” , 1701 resolution states.
The Resolution at the same time also emphasizes: “The importance of full control of Lebanon by the government of Lebanon ”
On December 4, the Israeli army announced an operation dubbed “Northern Shield” to destroy tunnels it said have been dug under the border by the Iranian backed Hezbollah militant group.
The Israeli military announced Sunday that it has uncovered another tunnel used by Hezbollah militants to infiltrate the country from Lebanon.
It’s the fourth such tunnel to be found since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Operation Northern Shield,.
Hezbollah, which has been accused of using tunnels to infiltrate Israel since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war has not commented on the allegations.
UNIFIL
United Nations’ peacekeepers in Lebanon have said two of the four tunnels allegedly discovered by Israel cross the border between the two countries, violating UN resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war.
In a statement on Monday, the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it “can confirm that two of the tunnels cross the Blue Line”.
“These constitute violations of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” the peacekeeping force said in a statement
Under the resolution, Lebanon’s army is responsible for security on its side of the border in a zone from which any other armed force, including Hezbollah, is banned.
In Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said his country is committed to the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and respect of the Blue Line.
Hariri said in a meeting with General Stefano Del Col, the UNIFIL head, that the Lebanese army will conduct patrols to deal “with any flaw in the implementation” of the ceasefire.
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