Lebanese officials brief UNIFIL on Israel breaches

By Wassim Saif al-Din

BEIRUT (AA) - Lebanese officials on Thursday briefed officials from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on alleged Israeli violations of Lebanese territory.

The briefing came during a meeting in Lebanon’s northern city of Naqoura attended by UNIFIL Commander Stefano Del Col and delegations from both Lebanon and Israel.

According to a Lebanese army statement, the Lebanese delegation -- headed by Brigadier-General Amin Farahat -- briefed UNIFIL officials on alleged breaches by Israel of Lebanon’s air, land and sea borders.

Delegation members also reiterated calls for an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon’s Shebaa farms and Kafr Shuba regions.

“Today’s discussions focused largely on issues related to the situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations, especially along the Blue Line,” UNIFIL said in a subsequent statement.

Established by the UN after Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in 2000, the Blue Line is intended to demarcate the border between the two countries.

“Otherwise, the situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations remains calm despite the region’s volatile situation,” Del Col was quoted as saying in the UNIFIL statement.