JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli officials said Friday that Israeli warplanes were forced to fly over southern Lebanon for the sake of its own security.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told local media that Lebanese ceasefire violations necessitate Israeli air forces to hold over flights despite of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas on Aug. 14.

    Israel believed that Hezbollah fighters are still harboring in southern Lebanon and continuing to smuggle weapons for rearming. Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Israeli air forces would continue to patrol the skies over Lebanon as long as Resolution 1701 remained unfulfilled.

    On Thursday, UNIFIL chief Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini accused Israeli air forces of flying over Lebanon as a violation of the UN ceasefire resolution and warned that if current diplomatic efforts fail to stop the incursions, force might be considered in the future.

    A UN spokesperson clarified Thursday night that there was no decision to fire at Israeli planes whatsoever.

    UNIFIL's anti-aircraft batteries will be used "only in self-defense in case a position is under imminent attack by air, no matter who attacks," the spokesperson was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying.