User talk:General Monzer Ayoubi

The commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major General Alberto Cuevas Asarta, said Monday in Sidon in southern Lebanon "I am pretty sure that a future war in the region is not imminent," according to the Beirut daily AN NAHAR Tuesday. Asarta visited Sidon on Monday and met with the commander of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) in the south, General Monzer al-Ayoubi, in the presence of other officials. Asked by reporters whether daily Israeli flights over Lebanon's airspace are considered violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701, Asarta said, "Every day we are witnessing violations of UNSCR 1701."

The 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hizbullah prompted the UN Security Council to adopt resolution 1701 which helped solidify a ceasefire to the war between the two sides. The resolution calls on Hizbullah to disarm and Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty. The 2006 war lasted for 33 days starting July 12.

Asked about the situation in southern Lebanon, Asarta said, "Personally I'm assured that nothing wrong will go on in the south." He added, "I have held meetings with Israeli and Lebanese authorities and I am pretty sure there won't be war. Some accidents have taken place recently in the area but we can confront and overcome them."

On August 3 Lebanese and Israeli forces engaged in clashes in Adeisseh across the Blue Line, the de facto border along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The reason for the violence was Israel's attempt to prune a tree in an area which Lebanon considered part of its land. Although the situation raised alarm, it was soon brought under control.

Regarding the relation between UNIFIL and villagers in southern Lebanon, Asarta said, "After he took command of the international troops the situation was generally good except in some towns and villages where people view UNIFIL incorrectly." "Our relation is perfect with 90 percent of the southern villagers and we will work on reinforcing it." Few months ago, a number of villagers staged protests in a number of southern towns and villages in order to protest maneuvers undertaken by the international troops. Although the situation was tense UNIFIL held meetings with the villagers and resolved the tension.

Asarta denied that that there are any attempts to lower the number of troops contributed to UNIFIL, according to AN NAHAR.