United Nations Security Council members have approved a request for more investigations into Israeli claims that Hezbollah has built cross border tunnels in southern Lebanon.
During a closed-door session, Council members also stressed the importance of allowing UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon to carry out their mission and of the Lebanese army preventing any violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
The session was held at the request of France, which has been seeking to contain a US attempt for a Council meeting that would discuss the Israeli claims on “terrorist tunnels” dug by Hezbollah across the UN-drawn Blue line.
However, despite French efforts, Council members agreed to hold an open session next Wednesday as the US hopes that Israel would gather more evidence on the tunnels.
A diplomat told Asharq Al-Awsat that all sea, air and land violations of Security Council Resolution 1701, “even if they were under ground,” should stop.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Assistant Secretary-General for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Alexander Zuev, briefed the closed-door session on the preliminary findings of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
UNIFIL has confirmed the existence of a tunnel close to the Blue Line in Israel.
It said that it was “engaged with parties to ensure urgent follow-up action” and “will communicate its preliminary findings to the appropriate authorities in Lebanon.”
On Tuesday, UNIFIL Commander Major General Stefano Del Col briefed the Lebanese president and speaker “on developments in connection with tunnels along the Blue Line.”
Yoel Strik, head of the army's northern command, has demanded the UN force "take action, investigate and make sure to neutralize the shaft of that attack tunnel" in a discussion with Del Col.
