Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council announced that it gave orders to prevent Israel from building a border-wall on what it defined as “Lebanese land,” amid rising tensions over territorial and maritime boundaries between Beirut and Jerusalem.
The border-wall, which Israeli officials told TV7, “is planned to be built from the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Syria, on Mount Hermon,” aims to prevent the elite “Radwan” force of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, from infiltrating Israel during a conflict, and “trying to capture an Israeli town or military outpost,” an act that would deal a severe blow to Israeli morale and a boost for the Iranian-proxy. As part of the construction’s progress, priority is being given to areas near Israeli towns or villages and other spots designated by the IDF as ‘high-risk’ that offer Hezbollah a topographic advantage that can allow for easier infiltration into the Jewish state. While the IDF made it clear to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, that the wall is being exclusively constructed on Israeli territory and does not violate Lebanese territory; Lebanon’s leaders have accused Israel of violating its territory, and by doing so, “threatening the stability of the border region.”
In an effort to alleviate the tension between Beirut and Jerusalem and avert a possible conflagration, the United States has offered to serve as a broker between Lebanon and Israel. According to several reports that were confirmed by TV7, assistant to the US Secretary of State David Satterfield relayed this message in meetings this week in Beirut and called on Lebanese officials to conduct themselves with restraint. A UNIFIL spokesman said last night that a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon had been monitoring the work that Israel has been doing and was working to prevent an escalation.