Israel Says Iran-Backed Militia Is Setting Up Illegal Outposts

  • Hezbollah structures are said to violate UN Security Council
  • UN patrol force acknowledges that it can’t inspect sites
UNIFIL peacekeeprs on patrol along the Lebanon-Israel border on July 6.Photographer: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Israel says Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia in southern Lebanon, has set up more than two dozen military outposts along the countries’ border in violation of international agreements, a development it says increases the risk of confrontation.

Under a United Nations Security Council resolution following the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, armed fighters from Hezbollah are not permitted to enter the border area. Troops from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon — or UNIFIL — are stationed there to make sure both sides keep to the rules.