<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile Ñ Lebanon reports Israeli buildup along border

Lebanon reports Israeli buildup along border Monday, June 29, 2009

Wednesday, June 10, 2009   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

NICOSIA Ñ The Israeli military is conducting an air and ground force buildup along the border with Lebanon, according to Lebanese security sources.

Lebanese security sources said the Israel Army has deployed main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers along the northern border with Lebanon. The sources said Israeli troops and combat vehicles have undertaken what was termed "unusual military activity."

"This is not an exercise," a security source said.

The sources identified the Israeli combat platforms as the Merkava Mk-4 MBT, M113 APC and Hammer vehicles. They said the armored vehicles were seen stationed at several points along the 70-kilometer Israeli-Lebanese border, including the Shebaa plateau.

Lebanon's state-owned National News Agency also reported Israeli fire along the border on June 27. The agency said the Israel Air Force sent attack helicopters into Lebanese air space as well. Israel has not reported such activity.

The sources said Israel also brought in bulldozers, drills and cranes into the divided town of Ghajar in the eastern sector. They said the deployment appeared to be in response to an Iranian construction project near the Israeli border.

The Israeli military deployment took place as the Jewish state proposed to advance talks with Lebanon meant to resolve border issues. Currently, Israel and Lebanon have discussed border activity under the auspices of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Army said Israel has also been telephoning residents of southern Lebanon and offering them money for information on the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers. The army demanded that Lebanese refuse to cooperate.

"Any attempt to cooperate in such matters is clearly dealing with the enemy," the army said.

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