Peacekeepers In Lebanon Find Unauthorized Arms

UN Peacekeepers In Lebanon Find Unauthorized Arms And Ammunition

New York, Nov 20 2006 9:00PM
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has discovered a cache of unauthorized missiles, rocket launches and “significant” amounts of ammunition in its field of operation, the seventh incident of its type since early September.

In a statement issued by UNIFIL’s military spokesman on Saturday, the Mission said the Lebanese army was informed of a finding on Friday near the town of Bourhoz and then took action to either confiscate or destroy the seven missiles, three rocket launchers and ammunition.

The statement added that the biggest finding remains an earlier discovery near Rachaiya El-Foukhar, when peacekeepers located 17 Katyusha rockets and some improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

UNIFIL and the Lebanese army have not encountered any armed personnel from Hizbollah in its field of operation in southern Lebanon, according to the statement, and no hostile action from such forces has been detected.

Resolution 1701, approved by the Security Council in August, calls on the Lebanese armed forces, assisted by UNIFIL, to ensure that the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line with Israel is free of any unauthorized armed personnel, assets or weapons.

Meanwhile, the Security Council held closed-door consultations today on the Secretary-General’s recent report on establishing a special international tribunal to deal with last year’s assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicholas Michel briefed Council members.

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