Eichhorst: Hizbullah Was Urged to Exercise Restraint in Light of Israeli Strike
European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst hoped that all sides in Lebanon would avoid any escalation in retaliation to Israel's strike against a Hizbullah position earlier this week, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.
She told the daily that diplomatic channels urged Hizbullah to exercise restraint.
Moreover, meetings were held with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon officials to that end.
They know that it is in no one's interest for the situation to escalate, added the ambassador.
Efforts are being exerted by all sides in order to ease the tensions, said Eichhorst.
The 38 countries contributing to UNIFIL have a serious desire to respect United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, she stressed to As Safir.
Israeli jets on Monday struck a Hizbullah position near the Lebanese-Syrian border.
The party acknowledged the strike on Wednesday, saying that it targeted a Hizbullah position near the Jinta region in the Bekaa.
It vowed that it will choose the appropriate time and place to retaliate to the attack.
Addressing terrorist bombings that have taken place in Lebanon over the past months, Eichhorst said that security in the country should be a priority and the people should not be left in a constant state of concern over such attacks.
There is an international and European will to bolster support for all of the security forces in Lebanon, starting with the army, she remarked.
The EU ambassador revealed that the coordinator of the EU counter-terrorism Gilles de Kerchove is scheduled to visit Lebanon in the next two weeks in order to explain to Lebanese authorities Europe's policy to combat terrorism.
Lebanon should have a national policy to combat terrorism, noted Eichhorst.
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