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Last update - 15:29 22/04/2008
UNIFIL finds Hezbollah arms; gunmen scatter peacekeepers
By Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: UNIFIL, south Lebanon 

Armed Hezbollah militants warded off members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) last month when the peacekeepers discovered a truck carrying weapons and ammunition belonging to the Lebanon-based guerilla group.

The incident was referred to briefly in a semi-yearly report submitted to the UN Security Council by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The incident was the first time that UNIFIL forces were confronted by armed Hezbollah men south of Lebanon's Litani River, an area which Security Council resolution 1701 prohibits Hezbollah from entering.

According to a government source in Jerusalem, the incident caused great embarrassment for UNIFIL. The source described the incident, explaining that UNIFIL troops on patrol discovered the truck and chased it down and pulled it over. When the UNIFIL troops approached the vehicle, the source said, armed Hezbollah men exited the truck and threatened the troops at gunpoint. The UNIFIL patrol then went back into their cars, according to the source, and returned to their base.
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The report submitted to the Security Council said the incident occurred on the night between the 30 and 31 of March. "This serious violation of the UN resolution raises concerns," the report said.

The incident was not reported in the media at the time of its occurrence.

Israeli security officials believe that Hezbollah forces are usually found in areas where the organization enjoys centralized civilian support. There are many areas that answer to that description in south Lebanon because most of the residents in the south of the country are Shiite Muslims, who support Hezbollah.

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  • UN wants UNIFIL in charge in Israel-Lebanon border town
  • UNIFIL official denies report of arms smuggling to S. Lebanon
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      1.   UNIFIL 08:12  |  Jim 22/04/08
      2.   This Will Attract Interesting Commentary 2 08:49  |  Ahmed 22/04/08
      3.   UNIFIL are toothless cowards 08:58  |  Joe 22/04/08
      4.   Warning to UNIFIL members 08:59  |  Natallie Durson 22/04/08
      5.   Omigod, they didn`t look away in time! 09:02  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/04/08
      6.   Hizbullah Training Sunni Terrorists at ?Furious Pace? 09:05  |  Jean Van Daem 22/04/08
      7.   This serious violation of the UN resolution raises concerns 09:26  |  Jon 22/04/08
      8.   Where`s the international outcry? 09:30  |  Yered Shmuel 22/04/08
      9.   internation outcry for what 10:13  |  jay jay 22/04/08
      10.   ahmed wake up 10:24  |  shim 22/04/08
      11.   shame on UNIFIL 10:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/04/08
      12.   another storm coming 10:31  |  Mikey 22/04/08
      13.   Gotta love the Irony 10:46  |  Mike 22/04/08
      14.   UN troops are useless 10:49  |  Joey 22/04/08
      15.   To #4 - Natalie Boo-hoo - Read and learn 11:01  |  Yossi 22/04/08
      16.   more laughs from the Useless Nations 11:01  |  don 22/04/08
      17.   UNIFIL SOLDIERS LOGIC REACTION; 11:03  |  Robert 22/04/08
      18.   Again, why is everyone so mad at my postings? 11:09  |  Natallie Durson 22/04/08
      19.   UNIFutILity 11:15  |  Michael 22/04/08
      20.   to Natallie 11:20  |  Major R 22/04/08
      21.   Signs of Decency in British Islam - Quilliam!! 11:21  |  GJ Curious 22/04/08
      22.   Ahmed : a genuine comic talent 11:22  |  Brutus 22/04/08
      23.   Resolution 1701 is worthless 11:33  |  Serge 22/04/08
      24.   We need to protect Hezbollah 11:33  |  Natallie Durson 22/04/08
      25.   How about this? 11:35  |  isaac 22/04/08
      26.   the 3 stooges and faith in unifil 11:42  |  v hardman 22/04/08
      27.   to Natallie 11:46  |  Steven 22/04/08
      28.   to Natalie 12:22  |  JADR 22/04/08
      29.   Major R`s joke 12:30  |  The Prince 22/04/08
      30.   UN resolutions now important ? 12:38  |  guy 22/04/08
      31.   29: Guy, too bad you can`t list any 13:11  |  David Teich 22/04/08
      32.   You can see their point 13:24  |  Steven 22/04/08
      33.   UNIFIL are just human shields for the Arabs,yet again . 13:33  |  PETER SM 22/04/08
      34.   progress with unifil 13:45  |  david wolgroch 22/04/08
      35.   How about being fair 14:07  |  Ali 22/04/08
      36.   WHATS ALL THE BIG FUSS 14:09  |  MJ 22/04/08
      37.   REPLY TO # 24 Natallie 14:16  |  MJ 22/04/08
      38.   WE need to protect Hizballah?! (Nutallie) 14:18  |  Gideon 22/04/08
      39.   The irritating Natallie Durson 14:20  |  Nechama 22/04/08
      40.   To: Natalli Durson 14:25  |  MJ 22/04/08
      41.   UNIFIL should have called in an Israeli airstrike 14:31  |  Murray the Mongoose 22/04/08
      42.   To MJ 14:36  |  Ali 22/04/08
      43.   Cipora Julianna Kohn-You forgot the Canadian soldiers 14:36  |  Murray of Montreal 22/04/08
      44.   #13 Mike of Ottawa 14:40  |  Murray of Montreal 22/04/08
      45.   Ali from Beirut, about being fair 14:51  |  Gideon 22/04/08
      46.   Great--Let`s get them in Gaza and the West Bank too 14:53  |  IW 22/04/08
      47.   LIVNI,OLMERT MUST BE EMBARRASED!RETAKE LEBANON, ELIMINATE TERROR! 15:16  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 22/04/08
      48.   FIRST TIME? 15:28  |  sechel 22/04/08
      49.   Brave soldiers 15:28  |  Alberto 22/04/08
      50.   1+1=2 15:41  |  AFCA 22/04/08
      51.   hijacker 15:42  |  Steven 22/04/08
      52.   To Ahmed....another "fearless" Islamic holy warrior 16:03  |  SLAVO 22/04/08
      53.   Haaretz loves Natalie Durson. 16:07  |  SLAVO 22/04/08
      54.   To #2 the brave Jihadist from lebanon 16:40  |  A. Naser 22/04/08
      55.   I agree with the Israel supporters on this one 16:43  |  Mark b. 22/04/08
      56.   OMG, Mike: Missiles Were Shot From UN Outposts 16:44  |  Tex 22/04/08
      57.   Gnattalie: Because You`re An Idiot 16:45  |  Tex 22/04/08
      58.   The Prince Has Spoken 16:50  |  Tex 22/04/08
      59.   To # 42 Ali from Beirut 16:52  |  Abdul Aziz Higazi 22/04/08
      60.   Humorous in a pathetic way 16:58  |  Natallie Durson 22/04/08
      61.   To #47 VOICE of MOSHIACH: Iran could deploy nuclear in South Leb 16:58  |  Aounist 22/04/08
      62.   The simple fact is 17:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 22/04/08
      63.   49...alberto.......brave...? 17:43  |  ravi 22/04/08
      64.   UNIFIL are BRAVE COWARDS! 17:45  |  The Archives 22/04/08
      65.   N. DURSON 17:46  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 22/04/08
      66.   #60 Natallie Durson 18:10  |  Gideon 22/04/08
      67.   Natalie, et al 18:10  |  Yakov 22/04/08
      68.   I know..... Let`s Put UN Troops In Judea, Samaria, Gaza 18:54  |  ZADOK 22/04/08
      69.   Even Trained Police Officers from the USA 18:58  |  ROBOCOP 22/04/08
      70.   un a complete joke. eu, us, israel together must do the job. 18:58  |  frenz 22/04/08
      71.   Natallie: #18. why we get mad 19:04  |  leucippe 22/04/08
      72.   UN troops scarper, failing to carry out their duty 19:23  |  Free Gilad Shalit 22/04/08
      73.   Chris Linthwaite 62 19:31