This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46618160

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israel urges UN action over Hezbollah 'attack tunnels' Israel urges UN action over Hezbollah 'attack tunnels'
(about 2 months later)
Israel has called on the UN Security Council to act against the militant group Hezbollah after the discovery of four tunnels under the Lebanese border.Israel has called on the UN Security Council to act against the militant group Hezbollah after the discovery of four tunnels under the Lebanese border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the tunnels, which violated a Security Council resolution, were "not merely an act of aggression" but "an act of war".Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the tunnels, which violated a Security Council resolution, were "not merely an act of aggression" but "an act of war".
He urged the UN to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety, impose heightened sanctions on it and hold Lebanon to account.He urged the UN to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety, impose heightened sanctions on it and hold Lebanon to account.
Hezbollah has so far not commented.Hezbollah has so far not commented.
Tensions are high between the Iran-backed Shia Islamist group and Israel, which fought a month-long war in 2006.Tensions are high between the Iran-backed Shia Islamist group and Israel, which fought a month-long war in 2006.
More than 1,125 Lebanese, most of them civilians, and 159 Israelis, including 43 civilians, were killed in that conflict. More than 1,189 Lebanese, most of them civilians, the Lebanese government says, and 159 Israelis, including 43 civilians, were killed in that conflict.
At a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu said the Israeli military had uncovered four "attack tunnels" on the border with Lebanon since starting an operation to eliminate them on 4 December.At a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu said the Israeli military had uncovered four "attack tunnels" on the border with Lebanon since starting an operation to eliminate them on 4 December.
"[Hezbollah's] goal has been to penetrate our territory, to kidnap our people, including civilians, murder civilians and conquer the northern piece of the Galilee," he said."[Hezbollah's] goal has been to penetrate our territory, to kidnap our people, including civilians, murder civilians and conquer the northern piece of the Galilee," he said.
The existence of the tunnels was corroborated by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on Monday, although its technical teams said they could only confirm that two of the tunnels crossed into Israeli territory.The existence of the tunnels was corroborated by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on Monday, although its technical teams said they could only confirm that two of the tunnels crossed into Israeli territory.
Unifil added that the tunnels constituted violations of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war.Unifil added that the tunnels constituted violations of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war.
"We expect Lebanon to take action against this, to protest against this, not to give in to this," Mr Netanyahu said."We expect Lebanon to take action against this, to protest against this, not to give in to this," Mr Netanyahu said.
Lebanon's foreign ministry has said the Lebanese army will "take all necessary measures to ensure [resolution 1701] is well implemented in co-ordination with Unifil forces".Lebanon's foreign ministry has said the Lebanese army will "take all necessary measures to ensure [resolution 1701] is well implemented in co-ordination with Unifil forces".
However, Hezbollah is part of Lebanon's national unity government and it has been able to resist international and domestic pressure to disarm its military wing, whose capabilities in some ways exceed those of the Lebanese army.However, Hezbollah is part of Lebanon's national unity government and it has been able to resist international and domestic pressure to disarm its military wing, whose capabilities in some ways exceed those of the Lebanese army.
Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organisation by Israel, many Western states, and Gulf Arab countries. The EU only considers the group's military wing a terrorist entity.Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organisation by Israel, many Western states, and Gulf Arab countries. The EU only considers the group's military wing a terrorist entity.
Mr Netanyahu also told reporters on Wednesday that Hezbollah had shut three missile development sites in September after he had revealed their existence in a speech to the UN.Mr Netanyahu also told reporters on Wednesday that Hezbollah had shut three missile development sites in September after he had revealed their existence in a speech to the UN.
Update 7 February 2019: This article has been updated to attribute Lebanese civilian casualty figures from the 2006 war to the Lebanese government.