Lebanon army chief calls for readiness at Israel border

BEIRUT (Reuters) - 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 U.N. 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 Shi‘ite 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.