Israel calls on UN to act 'against Hezbollah' regarding [alleged] positions near border

BEIRUT — Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan on Tuesday demanded the United Nations act “against Hezbollah over posts it recently built along the Israel-Lebanon border under the [alleged] guise of an environmental organization,” according to a letter sent by Israel to the UN Security Council, which was confirmed by the ambassador.

Here’s what we know:

    • In a letter to the UN Security Council and the organization's Secretary General António Guterres, Erdan warned on Wednesday that "the new reality on the Israeli-Lebanese border points to a clear escalation that could ignite the whole region.”

    • In recent weeks, tension has been rising in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has intensified its activities on the border with Israel. To this day, the exact function of these containers is a mystery. Hezbollah’s secretary general warned last month against any attempt to encroach on what he considers to be Lebanon's right to its hydrocarbon resources in the disputed maritime zone between the two countries.

    • According to Erdan, "The real purpose of these posts is intelligence gathering." "Responsibility for Hezbollah's expansion rests with the Lebanese authorities. Israel expects the Lebanese government to take immediate steps to put an end to this situation," continues Gilad Erdan's letter. He added, "These containers must be dismantled. Israel calls on the UN and its agencies to act now to facilitate the elimination of all Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, especially the military structures recently installed along the Blue Line.”

    • The Israeli army claimed on July 2 that it had shot down three Hezbollah drones which it said were heading towards the Karish gas field. ُEarlier that day, Hezbollah announced having launched “three unarmed drones in the direction of the disputed Karish field for reconnaissance missions.”

    • Last month, President Michel Aoun met with Amos Hochstein, US mediator for the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border negotiations, to discuss Lebanon’s response to Hochstein’s proposal a few months earlier. Hochstein, who was born in Israel, later spoke with Israeli officials to submit Lebanon’s proposal.

    • Commenting on Hochstein’s visit to Israel, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on June 28: “The exchanges were productive and made progress towards narrowing the differences between the two sides. The United States will remain engaged with all parties in the days and weeks ahead.”