"The European contingents of UNIFIL are deathly scared of a backlash
that would put their troops in danger," a military source said. "We are
quickly returning to the 'See no evil, hear no evil approach' that existed
before 2006."
The curtailment of UNIFIL operations has facilitated Hizbullah's
military build-up in southern Lebanon, the sources said. They said Hizbullah
has restored weapons bunkers and tunnels throughout the south, particularly
along the Israeli border.
The sources said UNIFIL has stopped patrolling villages south of
Lebanon's Litani River. They said these operations ended around April 2007
in wake of Hizbullah-sponsored attacks on peace-keeping patrols.
"The end of the patrols means that Hizbullah has a free hand in all
villages in the south," the source said.
On June 17, Lebanese insurgents renewed Katyusha rocket fire into
Israel. At least three 107 mm Katyusha rockets landed around the northern
Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona. Nobody was reported injured.
On Monday, a group named "Jihadi Badr Brigade-Lebanon Branch" claimed
responsibility for the Katyusha strike on Israel. The unknown group,
believed to be a front for Syria and Hizbullah, warned of additional
attacks.
"We had promised our people holy war," a statement by the group said.
"Here, we again attacked the Zionists when a group from the Jihadi Badr
Brigades struck the Zionists in the occupied Palestinian territory."
Under the new policy, the sources said, UNIFIL has also dismissed
Israeli requests to remove Hizbullah and PLO flags from the Israeli-Lebanese
border. UN officers said the flags should be removed by the Lebanese Army,
rather than foreign peace-keepers.
"After the Katyusha rocket attack, it's clear that UNIFIL will care even
more about force protection and less about keeping our border safe," the
source said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon claims it has gained control over virtually all Al Qaida
strongholds in the north.
Officials said the Lebanese Army tightened its hold over Fatah Al Islam
strongholds in the Palestinian refugee camp of Naher Al Bared camp near the
Syrian border. They said the army has captured Samed and Tawounia, regarded
as the two main bases of Fatah Al Islam.
"The army is moving in a slow and methodical course against the
terrorists," an official said.
Over the last two days, Lebanese artillery pounded what officials
determined were the
final strongholds of Fatah Al Islam. The strongholds consisted of United
Nations-operated schools in Naher Al Bared.
Fatah Al Islam was said to remain in Naher Al Bared's Naji Al Ali
neighborhood. The rest of the camp was said to have come under army control.
About 150 people have been killed, nearly half of them Lebanese
soldiers, in the Al Qaida insurrection. On Monday, another three Lebanese
soldiers were killed amid heavy army shelling of the UN school in Naher El
Bared.
Military sources said the fighting could end by next week. They said the
Palestinian movement Hamas has sought to mediate a ceasefire.
