UNIFIL peacekeepers marching with Lebanese Army members along the southern border. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today by UNIFIL)
BEIRUT — Lebanon filed a complaint to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, in response to Israel's accusations of Lebanon's non-compliance with Resolution 1701 voted in 2006.
This is the third complaint Lebanon filed against Israel since the war broke out between Hamas and Israel on Oct.7, and tension subsequently broke out between Hezbollah and Israel on Lebanon's southern border the next day.
The third complaint followed the directives of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib who instructed Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations to file the complaint, according to a communique by the Prime minister's office.
The complaint condemned recent Israeli actions violating Resolution 1701, citing instances like prohibited weapon use causing fires and civilian harm, attacks on journalists, and assaults on Lebanese army centers.
Resolution 1701 ended the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and necessitated significant Lebanese Army troop deployment in the area of southern Lebanon patrolled by UNIFIL, where Hezbollah's influence is strong.
Lebanon reaffirmed its commitment to self-defense, the complete implementation of Resolution 1701, and requested UN support to ensure its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the safe return of displaced individuals. It also emphasized the importance of ending Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
Lebanon had filed a complaint, on Jan. 4, to the UN Security Council over Israel's targeted killing of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in the capital Beirut, calling it the "most dangerous phase" of Israeli attacks on the country.
The complaint had said Israel used six missiles in the attack that killed al-Arouri and added that Israel uses Lebanese airspace to bomb Syria.
In October, Lebanon also filed a complaint to the Security Council over the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah by Israel in south Lebanon.