Hale Stresses U.S. Concern over Activity along Lebanon Border

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale highlighted his country's concerns regarding the developments along the Lebanese border with Syria and Israel, warning of attempts to destabilize the situation in it.

Local newspapers published on Friday reported that Hale's meeting with Prime Minister Tammam Salam a day before was to convey his country's deep concerns over the developments along Lebanon's border with Syria and with Israel.

Jihadists from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group are entrenched on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on the porous Syrian-Lebanese border.

According to As Safir newspaper, the ambassador pointed out that his country is closely following up the developments, stressing the importance of abiding by U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

The daily reported that the U.S. is urging the concerned countries to exercise restraint and keep the situation under control.

Hale denied that his country had a prior knowledge of the Israeli airstrike that targeted a Hizbullah convoy in Syria.

Hizbullah said Israel carried out Sunday's strike on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, which killed Jihad Mughniyeh, a prominent Hizbullah fighter, a senior Iranian general, and five other party members.

Israel has gone on high alert for possible attacks by Hizbullah. It has beefed up its air defenses and increasing surveillance along its northern frontier following the airstrike.

The Jewish state and Hizbullah are bitter enemies and fought a bloody month-long war in the summer of 2006.

An Nahar newspaper quoted observers as saying that Hale's endeavors come in light of a rise in tension between the U.S. and Israel, stressing that Washington can not stop the Jewish state from carrying out any aggressive act if a confrontation occurred.

H.K.

G.K.