"Israeli" warship violates Lebanese waters

Source: The News, 19-03-2008
BEIRUT: An 'Israeli' warship briefly entered Lebanese waters on Monday but was intercepted by an Italian ship operating as part of the UN peacekeeping force, the army said on Tuesday.
"An ‘Israeli' Saar warship entered Lebanese territorial waters at 7:30 am yesterday morning before being intercepted by the Italian navy's Bettica, which is part of UNIFIL," an army spokesman told AFP.
The 'Israeli' vessel traveled three miles before leaving, according to an army statement.
'Israeli' jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace, but it is rare for warships to enter Lebanese territorial waters.
Yasmina Bouziane, spokeswoman for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and said an investigation was under way.
"We received a report saying that a ship coming from ‘Israel' entered the maritime area of operation without proper procedures, violating Lebanese territorial waters," she said.
"UNIFIL is investigating this issue and UNIFIL command has contacted the IDF (‘Israeli' Army)."
The over flights have drawn criticism from Lebanese authorities and the international community as they are in violation of UN resolution 1701, which halted the 2006 war between the Hizbullah and 'Israel'.
Tensions have risen along the Lebanese-'Israeli' border since a declaration of "open war" by Hizbullah chief sayed Hassan Nasrallah after the February assassination of top Hizbullah operative Imad Moghniyeh in Damascus. Hizbullah has blamed 'Israel' for the killing.