The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has expressed concern over the "continued destruction" carried out by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire that came into effect nearly a month ago, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
For its part, the Lebanese army said that Israel continues to "violate the ceasefire agreement, violating Lebanese sovereignty and destroying towns and villages in the southern part of the country".
"It is worrying that Israeli army forces continue to destroy residential areas, agricultural lands and road networks in southern Lebanon in violation of Resolution 1701," the statement said. UNIFIL.
The ceasefire came into effect on November 27 after two months of open hostilities between Israel and Lebanon's "Hezbollah". Under the terms of the agreement, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are to deploy in southern Lebanon, and the Israeli army is to withdraw within 60 days. But both sides have accused each other of repeated violations.
The Lebanese army said today that it had reinforced its deployment in several areas of southern Lebanon where "Israeli forces have infiltrated", namely in the areas of Qantara and Wadi ah Hujair. According to the Lebanese news agency NNA, residents of Qantara have fled to the city of Ghandouriya. It added that "large-scale clearance operations" are underway in southern Lebanon.
The "Hezbollah" MP Ali Fayyad condemned in a statement the "extremely dangerous development and the serious threat" to Resolution 1701. The text, which ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, stipulates that only the Lebanese army and UNIFIL forces will be present in the south of the country and requires Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanese territory.
UNIFIL today reiterated its call for the "rapid withdrawal" of the Israeli army and the "full implementation" of Resolution 1701. "All actions that undermine the fragile ceasefire must cease," the statement added.