Israel calls on UNIFIL to restrain Hezbollah in south Lebanon

Israeli army Chief of Staff, Lt. General Gadi Eisenkot has asked the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Commander, General Stefano Del Col, to “control and restrain” Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon, Israel Hayom newspaper reported yesterday.

According to the paper, the Israeli General’s request came during a meeting with UNIFIL commander last week.

The paper explained that Eisenkon has also asked the UNIFIL commander to strengthen efforts to control Hezbollah in Lebanon and prevent it from carrying out its activities in the south, as well as monitor what he described as the militia’s “violation” of UN Resolution 1701 which calls “to maintain calm in northern Israel and south of Lebanon and prevent the arming of Hezbollah”.

Israel fears that UNIFIL forces are not working to limit Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon, specially in residential areas which, according to the Israeli army’s allegations, have led to transforming more than 200 southern villages into “fortified military bases”.

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