Lebanon army chief calls for readiness at Israel border

Comments mark a rare acknowledgement by military of risk of a new conflict at a time of political crisis in Lebanon

BEIRUT: Lebanon's army chief urged his soldiers on Tuesday to stand fully ready at the southern border to face the "threats of the Israeli enemy".

General Joseph Aoun also called on the troops to stay vigilant for the "good implementation" of UN resolution 1701 to "preserve stability" at the border with Israel. Israeli officials had no immediate comment.

The "cessation of hostilities" resolution ended a destructive war in 2006 between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, the Iran-backed military and political movement. The two sides have since avoided a major conflict. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force on the border.



Under the resolution, the Lebanese army is responsible for security on its side of the border in a zone from which any other armed force, including Hezbollah, is banned.

Tensions rose earlier this year between Hezbollah and Israel, which has grown alarmed by Iran and its Lebanese ally's expanding influence in Syria and the region.

"I call upon you for full readiness at the southern border to face the threats of the Israeli enemy and its violations, and what it is indicating in aggressive intentions towards Lebanon, its people and its army," the army's Twitter account quoted Aoun as saying.



The comments marked a rare acknowledgement by the military of the risk of a new conflict at a time of political crisis in Lebanon.

"The exceptional political situation that Lebanon is going through requires you to exercise the highest levels of awareness and vigilance," Aoun was quoted as saying.

The shock resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri this month, in a broadcast from Saudi Arabia, plunged Lebanon into a domestic crisis.

It has also thrust the country back onto the forefront of the regional rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Iran.