U.S. Accuses Hizbullah of Hindering Probe into Arms Depot Blast, U.N. Rejects Change in Rules of Engagement
Hizbullah hampered a U.N. investigation into the explosion of one of its arms caches in southern Lebanon, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said.
Alejandro Wolff said a briefing of the Security Council by U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy "made one thing clear, the investigation was impeded."
"What else can you expect when UNFIL and LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) forces are being pelted by stones and the troubling element is that this seemed to be quite organized," he added.
"This was not spontaneous, this was not simply — as some might suggest — homeowners who were worried about intrusion on their lands, or homes. This was designed to impede the investigation and there are also indications of providing cover for efforts to remove evidence," Wolff said.
"That violation shows how perilous the situation remains and how important that UNIFIL be supported in its efforts to ensure that there are no arms entering southern Lebanon," Wolff said, a sign that Washington favors change in the rules of engagement in south Lebanon.
Last week, UNIFIL said a series of blasts in an area considered to be a Hizbullah stronghold was probably caused by stockpiled ammunition and marked a "serious violation" of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.
That resolution brought an end to the devastating war in Lebanon between the Jewish state and Hizbullah in 2006.
Israel has protested to the United Nations about the arms cache and a protest march by Lebanese on an unmanned Israeli observation post in the disputed border area of Kfarshouba. It has also asked for "firmer action" by UNIFIL.
Le Roy, for his part, said he rejects change in UNIFIL”s mandate, stressing that he wants "full implementation" of Resolution 1701, including the cessation of continuous Israeli violations.
He told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Friday that he is "glad that things have calmed down."
Le Roy stressed that the arms cache in Khirbet Selm was "old." He refused to go into details about the weapons, saying "an investigation is ongoing."
The daily An Nahar on Friday, citing well-informed Lebanese political sources, said the investigation showed discrepancies between the readings of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL, which could prompt the United Nations to issue a statement in support of the U.N. peacekeeping force.
Meanwhile, al-Liwaa daily said senior White House official Daniel Shapiro will arrive in Beirut Friday on a brief visit in which he will meet with Lebanese political leaders.