Lebanon's Army chief calls for readiness at southern border in face of Israel threats

Gen. Joseph Aoun also called on the troops to stay vigilant for the "good implementation" of U.N. resolution 1701 to "preserve stability" at the border with Israel.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment.

"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 toward 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 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.

Israeli forces regularly violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and target Lebanese patrol soldiers. Israeli officials have even threatened another war on Lebanon.

Back in September, Israel conducted its biggest military drill in almost two decades on the Lebanese border. An Israeli military source said the 10-day exercise was meant to simulate “scenarios we’ll be facing in the next confrontation with Hezbollah.”


/257