Special report: New clash between Israeli, Lebanese troops

Special report: Israel-Lebanon Conflicts   [ Video ][Gallery]

    BEIRUT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani has said that his country is prepared to provide Lebanon with anti-aircraft missiles, Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star reported on Monday.

    "Iran is ready to supply modern anti-aircraft arms to Lebanon," Ambassador Sheibani was quoted as saying after his recent talks with Lebanese Army commander General Michel Suleiman.

    However, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's office had no comment on the Iranian initiative.

    A high-ranking Lebanese Army source confirmed that the statement "was indeed given by the Iranian ambassador and the Lebanese Army has no comments on the matter so far," said the report.

    But the source noted that "the Lebanese Army has no problem with the source of weapons as long as they are provided in the context of defending Lebanon."

    The United States and Israel accuse Iran of supplying arms and financial support to Lebanese Hezbollah and Syria of being one of the routes by which such weapons are smuggled to Hezbollah. Damascus and Tehran deny the allegations.

    Lebanon was subjected to a massive Israeli offensive in July and August that demolished the country's infrastructure, killed over 1,400 citizens, one third of whom were children, and wounded over 4,000 people, mostly women and children, said the Daily Star.

    The army has since said it was in market for anti-aircraft and anti-tank weaponry.

UN calls for end to Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace

    BEIRUT, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Saturday called for an end to Israel's continued violations of Lebanese airspace, while giving a positive assessment of the situation in south Lebanon.

    Geir Pedersen, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's representative in Lebanon, made the call after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh, local media reported.

    "Things in the south are looking very well, but we need an end to the (Israeli) overflights," Pedersen was quoted as saying.

    The UN envoy said that the Israeli overflights were a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calling for an end to the 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah war on Aug. 14.

    Israel has continued to carry out flights over the Lebanese territory despite a UN-brokered ceasefire which ended the July-August conflict between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

    The flights have increasingly been criticized by the international community, but Israel said it would continue its controversial flights over Lebanon, which were needed to stem alleged arms smuggling to Hezbollah.