On Tuesday, the Lebanese Army Command decided to resume patrolling the area south of the Litani River in coordination with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).
The presence of the Lebanese army is symbolic. Hezbollah controls the entire south of Lebanon © LMD
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Army Command decided to resume patrolling the area south of the Litani River in coordination with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).
Its troops’ operations were suspended three days ago when the two forces’ joint patrol came under fire from Israel, close to Aita al-Shaab, in Bint Jbeil district.
According to a European diplomatic source, these patrols, which have been reduced to a strict minimum since the start of cross-border fighting in southern Lebanon in October, are vital to the army’s agenda, as the military institution has been trying from the outset to demonstrate “neutrality” in the conflict — distinguishing itself from Hezbollah and its actions.
This week’s joint declaration by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, vowing to prevent attacks on Israel from Lebanese soil and disarm rogue factions operating within Lebanon, may be more than just another political statement.
Amid the rubble left by Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon, campaign posters urge support for Hezbollah in elections on Saturday as the group aims to show it retains political clout despite the pounding it took in last year's war.
Lebanese authorities have reportedly foiled an attempt to smuggle gold bars—worth an estimated $2 million—through Beirut International Airport, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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