Feltman in Beirut Next Week, to Warn against Provoking Israel

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman is expected to visit Lebanon next week where he will hold talks with a number of Lebanese officials on the latest regional developments.

Al-Joumhouriya newspaper reported on Saturday that he will stress the need for Lebanon to respect the international sanctions against Syria, warning against any Syrian attempts to avoid these sanctions.

In addition, he will urge officials to assist the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in arresting the four suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Feltman will also relay the United States’ warning against sparking any unrest in southern Lebanon, which may spark an Israeli assault, added the newspaper.

Earlier this week, one rocket was fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, prompting the Jewish state’s army to warn Beirut to work to prevent similar attacks in the future.

The Lebanese army said that the rocket was fired from the area between the town of Haneen and Rmaish.

On Tuesday, Abdullah Azzam Brigades, the Qaida-affiliated organization, claimed the attack against northern Israel.

The incident marked the eighth rocket attack since the end of the July 2006 war between the Israel and Hizbullah.