Article

2007-07-03 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon deploys 300- strong police force along borders with Syria

A 300-strong police force deployed along Lebanon's northern borders with Syria Monday in what appears to be an attempt to prevent the alleged smuggling of weapons and fighters. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the force set up "observation posts" along the northern border stretch from the seaside Arida crossing in the west to the village of Hnaider towards the east. The posts were erected along the southern bank of the Grand River, the natural barrier separating Lebanon from Syria in the Northern Province.

The Lebanese Army also had set up observation posts in the region following reports of stepped up smuggling of weapons from Syria to Lebanon and the trafficking of terrorists engaged in clashes with government troops.

The United Nations also has referred to reports about alleged smuggling of weapons from Syria to Lebanon. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria and Iran last Friday to do more to prevent arms smuggling to Lebanon, citing "disturbing reports" from the Lebanese and Israeli governments of alleged violations of the U.N. arms embargo.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Hezbollah-Israel war last summer, was supposed to end the smuggling of weapons into Lebanon from neighboring Syria.

Fatah al Islam
The pro-government parliament majority has accused Syria of creating, arming and funding Fatah al Islam militants that are currently engaged in a fight with the Lebanese army in north Lebanon. They say the militants who are of different nationalities, from Bangladesh to Morocco , have entered Lebanon with their weapons illegally from Syria . They accuse Syria of using the Palestinian militants to destabilize Lebanon.

Posted by Fred 2007-07-03 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Syria

#1 Woohoo! That ought to fix it! Let's see, does that make it about one policeman every few miles or so? Against smuggling efforts supported by the Iranian government. In a society prone to bribes. And fearful for their families' lives. And with god knows what loyalties.

Posted by gorb 2007-07-03 03:20|| 2007-07-03 03:20|| Front Page Top

#2 1. The river will help.

2. If the Lebanese army is the backup, it's an improvement over the status quo.

3. The corruption, question of competence, and climate of fear is valid. But that it's even being done is an accomplishment that wouldn't have even been considered a year or two ago.

Posted by Pappy 2007-07-03 10:08|| 2007-07-03 10:08|| Front Page Top

#3 Well, just reading about the Leb army, and how it stuck to its guns against those terrorists, and seemingly, did a pretty good job. Now this kind of security. Yea, it's not like US, but I got to be wondering, we sent ammo into them. Who else and what else has also been sent to them? Give them credit for the fighting they are doing.

Posted by Sherry 2007-07-03 10:56|| 2007-07-03 10:56|| Front Page Top

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