Lebanon committed to Hezbollah-Israel truce

By Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) – Lebanon is committed to UN resolution 1701 on the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Tuesday.

Aoun was speaking during a meeting with Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col, head of UNIFIL mission at the presidential palace in Beirut.

Aoun said Lebanon is waiting for the conclusion of field investigations regarding the issue of cross-border tunnels, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency.

On December 5, Del Col said that a technical team will be dispatched to Israel to investigate Israeli allegations about the digging of tunnels by Hezbollah along Israeli-Lebanese border.

He underlined the importance of ensuring UNIFIL's full access to all locations along the Blue Line, the line created by the UN in 2000 to demarcate Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon.

The commander appealed to both Israel and Lebanon to refrain from taking any unilateral action that could adversely affect the situation.

UNIFIL forces observe both sides' commitment to the agreements on the border.

In 2006, Israel launched a war against Hezbollah during which at least 1,200 people, mostly Lebanese civilians, were killed.