Report: International Keenness on Lebanon’s Stability

Lebanon affirms commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 despite Israeli violations amid “American and European” assurances that stability in the Mediterranean country is key in light of the regional turmoil raging around it, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Ministerial sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “Lebanon received affirmation, from Americans and Europeans” that maintaining stability is essential.

However they did not say whether these assurances “came after or before the mutual threats” between Lebanon and Israel, but they “clearly reflect direct confirmation by the Americans specifically, that the Lebanese front is not close to ignition,” said the sources.

The daily said “Americans do not want additional hotbeds of tension in the region. Their priority today is Syria and the rapid developments in it militarily and politically, and how to manage the political conflict between them and the Russians.”

On Thursday, Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned it had acquired "precision missiles" despite extensive efforts by neighbour and foe Israel to prevent the movement developing this capability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replied saying Nasrallah should not think twice but "at least 20 times" before deciding whether to attack Israel.

"If he seeks conflict with us, he will receive a blow he cannot even imagine," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel has fought several conflicts against Hizbullah, the last in 2006.

UN Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was intended to resolve the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. It was unanimously approved by the United Nations Security Council on 11 August 2006. The Lebanese cabinet unanimously approved the resolution on 12 August 2006.