Israeli combat flights over Lebanon to continue: DM

Israel Air Force (IAF) flights over Lebanon would continue, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Sunday, shrugging off outside criticism of its violation of Lebanese air.

Peretz said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday that "the legitimacy for overflights increases" as the intelligence accumulated about Syria and Iran are intensifying efforts to transfer arms to Hezbollah.

He accused the Lebanese government of failing to honor its obligations under the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to keep Syria and Iran's weapons from reaching Hezbollah.

"As long as the resolution isn't implemented, there is no other choice" but to keep flying over Lebanon, he said.

Peretz's remarks came after French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie warned on Friday that Israel's air incursion into Lebanon could give others an excuse to disobey the ceasefire resolution and lead to self-defense firing from the UN troops.

Israeli military planes keep flying over Lebanon after the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended Israel's month-long conflict with Hezbollah this summer went into effect on Aug. 14.

Defending the overflights, Israel argued that it has to do so to weak Hezbollah's presence in southern Lebanon and halt the ongoing arms supplies to the Shiite group.

Source: Xinhua