"By 3 p.m. the forces had closed nine illegal crossings up to the
northern bridge of Al Dahiri," NNA said.
    Officials said the border operation would continue throughout April.
They said the border would be sealed in the area of Nabi Barri in the Hermel
region.
    Over the last month, hundreds of Palestinian and Iranian-trained
insurgents have infiltrated Lebanon from Syria. Officials said the
infiltrators included members of the Syrian-sponsored Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine-General Command and Fatah Al Islam.
    The United Nations has sought to help the Lebanese government increase
border security. But the UN Interim Force in Lebanon has backed down from
confrontations with Lebanese militias, particularly the Iranian-sponsored
Hizbullah.
    In March 2008, Hizbullah prevented UNIFIL from seizing a truckload of
weapons in southern Lebanon. Hizbullah fighters aimed assault rifles toward
UNIFIL troops, who on March 31 abandoned their attempt to confiscate the
truck near the Litani River.
    "This serious violation of the UN resolution raises concerns," a report
by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said.
Copyrights 2008, Middle East Newsline. All rights reserved.
Powered by  ATPLOGICATPLOGIC.COM