Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Rebuilding with Iran’s Backing at UN
Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Rebuilding with Iran’s Backing at UN
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 13 – According to Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Lebanon’s Hezbollah is attempting “to restore its power and rearm with the help of Iran,” asserting that the militia continues to pose a “serious danger” to both Israel and regional stability. Updated U.S. intelligence reports from last month – as disclosed by Reuters – indicated that Iran-backed Hezbollah is likely to seek to replenish its stockpiles and forces, creating a long-term risk for the U.S. and its allies in the region.
Israel and Hezbollah reached a U.S.-facilitated 60-day ceasefire – commencing on Nov 27 – following more than a year of conflict. The ceasefire’s stipulations mandate the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon while Israeli troops and Hezbollah withdraw their forces.
Both parties have accused each other of breaching the agreement. “While Hezbollah’s military capabilities were largely diminished during the conflict, they are now working to restore their power and rearm with Iran’s assistance,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon stated in a letter to the 15-member Security Council.
Hezbollah and Iran’s U.N. mission in New York did not immediately reply to a request for feedback on Danon’s statements. A senior Lebanese source affiliated with Hezbollah refuted the claims.
Danon emphasized the need for the Lebanese administration and the international community to concentrate on “preventing the smuggling of arms, ammunition, and financial resources through the Syria-Lebanon border as well as through aerial and maritime routes.”
Since the ceasefire was agreed upon, “there have been multiple attempts to supply weapons and funds to Hezbollah,” Danon noted in the letter viewed by Reuters. He added that Hezbollah’s current military buildup was often in proximity to U.N. peacekeeping bases and patrols in southern Lebanon.
“Notwithstanding this, UNIFIL decided to interpret its mandate in a lenient manner, choosing not to take all necessary measures to ensure that its operational area is not exploited for hostile activities of any kind,” Danon stated.
Israel has consistently criticized the U.N. peacekeepers, known as UNIFIL, which was authorized by the Security Council – under resolution 1701 – “to assist” Lebanese forces in ensuring that the southern part of the country is “free of any armed individuals, assets, and weapons except for those of the Lebanese government.”
High-ranking U.N. officials have frequently reiterated that UNIFIL plays a supporting role and cannot be held accountable for the failure of the involved parties to implement resolution 1701. “We are worried that lessons have not been absorbed, and that currently, we are witnessing yet another reluctance by the Force to adjust to Hezbollah’s evolving tactics … along with a refusal to comprehensively execute their mandate,” Danon remarked.
Source: Reuters
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