UN chief says Hezbollah drone launch ‘reckless provocation’

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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Hezbollah’s recent drone launch into Israeli airspace a “reckless provocation” in a report submitted Thursday to the Security Council, and warned that the war in Syria was destabilizing Lebanon.

Ban also criticized Israel, saying its use of drones and fighter jets in Lebanese territory violates Lebanon’s sovereignty. Israel and Hezbollah, a major political and military force in Lebanon, fought a war in 2006.

The U.N. chief said he has told Lebanon’s leaders that militias like Hezbollah pose serious risks “to the stability of the country and the region.” He called on Hezbollah to disarm.

Ban said the drone launched by Hezbollah earlier this month was “a reckless provocation that could lead to a dangerous escalation threatening Lebanon’s stability.” Israeli forces intercepted the drone.

The secretary-general’s semi-annual report examines Lebanon’s efforts to regain control over all of its territory, strengthen its sovereignty and disarm its militias since the withdrawal of Syrian security forces in 2005. Under a Security Council resolution passed in 2004, Lebanon’s militias were told to disarm, but have not — Hezbollah has instead increased its weapons capacity nearly to the level of the Lebanese military, Ban said.

Hezbollah’s “sizeable sophisticated military capabilities outside the control of the Government of Lebanon remains a matter of grave concern, particularly as it creates an atmosphere of intimidation in the country and represents a key challenge to the safety of Lebanese civilians and to the Government’s monopoly on the legitimate use of force,” he said.

Lebanon and Syria have also failed to demarcate their borders, Ban said.

Ban also warned that Lebanon has been destabilized by Syria’s civil war, with cross-border clashes and shelling, arms smuggling, assassination attempts and an influx of refugees. He added that he was concerned about reports of Hezbollah’s activities in Syria, where the death toll is now estimated by activists at over 30,000.

On Monday, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice told the Security Council that Hezbollah is stepping up support for the Syrian government and has become part of President Bashar Assad’s “killing machine.” Hezbollah is also continuing to plot new measures with Iran to keep Assad in power, she said.

Israel’s ambassador Ron Prosor said Monday that Hezbollah’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad form a “trio of terror” with Assad, “offering the tyrant of Damascus guidance on how to butcher the Syrian people more efficiently.”

Associated Press

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14 responses to “UN chief says Hezbollah drone launch ‘reckless provocation’”

  1. But what about Israel’s daily violation of Lebanese airspace????!!!!!

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      Isn’t that a direct result of Hizbullah’s rejection of UNR1701 immediately after it was signed and a promise to re-arm themselves (despite that too being against resolutions and Lebanon’s own desire to have all security under the LAF) and target Israeli civilians as much as they can? Had Hizbullah moved beyond the Litani and become disarmed, the path would have been paved for peace with Lebanon and justification for IAF over-flights would be removed. Hizbullah did a great disservice to Lebanon with its actions because many in the global community were ready to pounce on Israel for the over-flights. Now, they can’t.

  2. But what about Israel’s daily violation of Lebanese airspace????!!!!!

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      Isn’t that a direct result of Hizbullah’s rejection of UNR1701 immediately after it was signed and a promise to re-arm themselves (despite that too being against resolutions and Lebanon’s own desire to hae all security under the LAF) and target Israeli civilians as much as they can? Had Hizbullah moved beyond the Litani and become disarmed, the path would have been paved for peace with Lebanon and justification for IAF over-flights would be removed. Hizbullah did a great disservice to Lebanon with its actions because many in the global community were ready to pounce on Israel for the over-flights. Now, they can’t.

  3. FU## YOU BAN KI . WE CAN BAN KI OUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT YOUA  SUPPORTA ISRAEL.

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      Your language only indicates that you are full of rage and not much in terms of intelligence. I suggest you go kick a dog to get your aggression out. The UN has never been a supporter of Israel, and that continues under Ban Ki. The UN can’t even get out of their own way to decry Islamic violence and help innocent civilians. Truly, they answer to global paymasters, whether they be on the UNSC or they be sources of petroleum energy. The rest of us are on our own.

  4. FU## YOU BAN KI . WE CAN BAN KI OUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT YOUA  SUPPORTA ISRAEL.

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      Your language only indicates that you are full of rage and not much in terms of intelligence. I suggest you go kick a dog to get your aggression out. The UN has never been a supporter of Israel, and that continues under Ban Ki. The UN can’t even get out of their own way to decry Islamic violence and help innocent civilians. Truly, they answer to global paymasters, whether they be on the UNSC or they be sources of petroleum energy. The rest of us are on our own.

  5. first you throw the stone and than you never understand how you get a hundred stones back. nothing changed, you will never learn. wasnt the last 30 years enough for lebanon? you really think you get anything here beside the possibility of another round? you can’t really harm israel, you just going to get hurt in the process of trying. 2006 will not repeat it self, the next round will be worse for lebanon since Hizballa is now part of the parlament.

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      That is very true, sadly. What some posters here forget is the damage Hizbullah caused on Lebanon because it acted on its own agenda, dictate from abroad, without regard for Lebanon’s people or govt. That’s the real issue here, and one repeated by the drone sent into Israel. 

  6. first you throw the stone and than you never understand how you get a hundred stones back. nothing changed, you will never learn. wasnt the last 30 years enough for lebanon? you really think you get anything here beside the possibility of another round? you can’t really harm israel, you just going to get hurt in the process of trying. 2006 will not repeat it self, the next round will be worse for lebanon since Hizballa is now part of the parlament.

    1. williamgel Avatar
      williamgel

      That is very true, sadly. What some posters here forget is the damage Hizbullah caused on Lebanon because it acted on its own agenda, dictate from abroad, without regard for Lebanon’s people or govt. That’s the real issue here, and one repeated by the drone sent into Israel. 

  7. Patience2 Avatar

    This man demonstrates his ‘magnificent grasp of the obvious’.  The ‘street-turds’ and Nasty continue their harassement, endangering the people of Lebanon.

  8. Patience2 Avatar

    This man demonstrates his ‘magnificent grasp of the obvious’.  The ‘street-turds’ and Nasty continue their harassement, endangering the people of Lebanon.

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