Lebanese gov't warns to stop deployment in south if Israel breaches ceasefire
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Beirut, Aug 20, IRNA
Lebanon-Israel-Fragile Truce
With the fragile ceasefire in force between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese government threatened to stop deployment in the south of the country if Israel makes similar breach of ceasefire.
Israeli paratroopers airlifted by helicopters backed by jets raided southern Lebanon early Saturday.
They had penetrated into southern Lebanon in disguise of Lebanese army personnel.
The Lebanese resistance forces returned fire when they were attacked by Israeli troops.
The troops withdrew from the battlefield at the village of Boudai, 15 km west of Baalbek, Bekaa Valley after suffering casualties, Lebanese officials said.
Meanwhile, a visiting UN envoy in Lebanon warned that such incidents threatened to spark war again and scare off states which may help boost the UN peacekeeping force.
"We may slip into war again, this is why incidents such as what happened yesterday are not very helpful," Terje Roed-Larsen said in an interview with Lebanon's newspaper An-Nahar.
"The incident does not help maintain the fragile ceasefire and will not encourage potential participants in the new international force to contribute with soldiers."
Resolution 1701 calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon in tandem with the deployment of the Lebanese army and a strengthened UN force of 15,000 troops.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora blasted Saturday's operation as a 'blatant violation' of the truce.
Lebanon warned it might suspend its troop deployment to the south, which began on Thursday, if the United Nations failed to ensure Israel honored the resolution.
"I could ask the cabinet to stop the army's deployment to the south, as we did not send the troops to fall into an Israeli trap," Defense Minister Elias Murr said.
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