BICOM

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have exposed a Hezbollah observation post on the Israel-Lebanon border masquerading as an environmental NGO ‘Green Without Borders’.

The IDF said: “Hezbollah violates Resolution 1701 on a regular basis, operating in the area south of the Litani River, using civilian camouflage and reinforcing military capabilities in the rural areas of the Shi’ite villages in violation of UN resolution.” UN Resolution 1701 states that the presence of any armed group, other than the Lebanese Armed Forces or the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is prohibited south of the Litani River.

The IDF said Hezbollah uses ‘Green Without Borders’ as a front for operations in the contact zone and has established observation posts for gathering information about IDF movements. In the past year, the IDF has exposed five other Hezbollah observation posts located from the western border close to the Mediterranean Sea to the central border area in the Shiite community of Ayta ash Shab. This latest positon is further north, parallel with the Israeli community of Misgav Am.

UNIFIL spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti, said: “UNIFIL in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces closely monitors all activities close to the Blue Line, including sites of the NGO. UNIFIL has not observed any unauthorised armed persons at the locations or found any basis to report a violation of resolution 1701 but continues to monitor activities closely.”

The IDF spokesman said: “Hezbollah acts as one who thinks the IDF is unaware of its activities, prevents UN forces in the area from inspecting these positions, claiming it is a private area and thus preventing any scrutiny of the violation of Resolution 1701. The IDF regularly monitors Hezbollah activities as it has shown recently, and is aware of this activity and of other activities.”

Last year, Israel protested to the UN Security Council about Hezbollah’s outposts along the border under the guise of ‘Green Without Borders’. Israel released photos and a video backing up its claim. UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said that UNIFIL “has observed tree-planting activities undertaken by the NGO as is their stated objective,” adding that there was nothing in violation of Resolution 1701.