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Thursday, June 28, 2007

Weapons from Iran, Syria flowing easily into Lebanon

WASHINGTON — The Lebanese Army, assisted by nearly 15,000 United Nations forces, have been ineffective against the increasing influx of Iranian and Syrian weapons to Hizbullah.

The United Nations reported that weapons smuggling to Lebanon has increased over the last few months from neighboring Syria.

The UN's Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team said weapons were pouring into Lebanon through numerous points along the 325-kilometer border with Syria. The UN team, which toured the border in May and June 2007, said smuggling was conducted by Lebanese and Syrians, particularly by families involved in the weapons trade.

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A UN panel said the Lebanese Army has failed to take adequate measures to protect its eastern and northern borders, Middle East Newsline reported.

The Lebanese government has agreed with the UN report. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said Syria was sending weapons to two camps controlled by Fateh Al Intifada and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.

"Border security at the Syrian border is a new exercise for all the security agencies, based on the recent history of Lebanon," the report said.

The U.S.-supported Lebanese Army also remains unable to control Palestinian refugee camps, a key recipient of the smuggled weapons. The report, drafted under Security Council Resolution 1701, said Palestinian and other militias in Lebanon and Syria were involved in arms smuggling.

Lebanon and Syria have not been cooperating to stop weapons smuggling. The UN panel, which included nationals from Algeria, said the Lebanese Army was not in contact with its Syrian counterpart on any level.

"There is no cooperation between the Lebanese agencies on the operational level and their Syrian counterparts," the report said.

The UN has urged the Siniora government to reform the Lebanese Army and security forces. The report said the UN and other international bodies must help Beirut integrate Lebanese military and police units along the border and acquire intelligence and rapid intervention systems and platforms.

"Security agencies demonstrate a good level of understanding of the nature of their duties in relation to the provision of Resolution 1701," the report said. "Despite such measures, the current border control strategy, the nature of the terrain, the current state of equipment available and training, as well as the processes and infrastructures at the official border crossing points makes it still possible for arms to be smuggled undetected through the border line."

"In recent weeks these camps have been reinforced with munitions, arms and fighters," Siniora said. "Everyone knows that these groups are supported and armed by Syria. This is something I will talk to the Arab League about."

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