Beirut - The command of the United Nations Interim Forces
(UNIFIL) command said Wednesday its was taking the new threats by the
al-Qaeda terrorist network seriously.
'We take these threats seriously, as the security of our staff and
personnel is very important. UNIFIL has already taken full security
and safety measures, and our focus remains on our operations and the
implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,' UNIFIL
spokeswoman Yasmina Bouziane said.
Bouziane was referring to new threats made by Ayman al-Zawahiri,
the second-in-command of al-Qaeda, that Lebanon will play a pivotal
role in the terrorist network's fight against the 'crusaders and
Jews' - an apparent reference to Israel and the UNIFIL troops in
south Lebanon.
'Security and law enforcement, including the safety of UN
personnel and equipment in the regions where UNIFIL is deployed, are
the responsibility of the Lebanese army,' Bouziane said.
Lebanese security sources said UNIFIL patrols and observation
points were on high alert. Tight security measures were also
put in place around all UN bases in southern Lebanon.
Bouziane noted that UNIFIL, the Lebanese people and army have a
common interest in preserving stability in South Lebanon and
preventing violations of Resolution 1701 which ended 33 days of war
between Israel and militants from Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement
in August 2006.
UNIFIL was established in Lebanon 30 years ago, after Israel's
first invasion in 1978, but had little impact on events - having no
mandate to prevent attacks on Israel from Lebanon, or vice versa.
But after the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the force received
new orders and thousands of reinforcements under the Resolution 1701,
which also stipulated the deployment of the Lebanese army in the
area.
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