UNIFIL Denies Friction with Houla Residents

UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh denied media reports about a friction between a UNIFIL patrol and the residents of the southern town of Houla on March 26, the National News Agency reported Monday.

“The reports are untrue,” NNA quoted Singh as saying. “UNIFIL stresses that such a friction between any of its patrols and the Houla residents hasn’t taken place.”

“Relations between UNIFIL and the residents are excellent and based on trust and mutual respect,” he said.

Singh reiterated that peacekeepers are coordinating with the Lebanese army to fully implement their mission in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

The denial came after media reports said that French peacekeepers tried to inspect a goat farm in Houla on Saturday when the owner refused to grant them entry. The town’s residents rushed to his support on the grounds that the search wasn’t coordinated with the Lebanese army, the reports added.