Kuwait, UAE condemn Israeli 'aggression' on Lebanon
AFP
DUBAI- Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday slammed Israel for its "aggression" on Lebanon, a day after a border clash between Lebanese and Israeli soldiers in which four people were killed.
The UAE condemned "Israel's aggression on the Lebanese army in south Lebanon as a flagrant infringement and blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701," which ended a Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006, the official news agency WAM said.
Senior foreign ministry official Sultan al-Ali, quoted by WAM, called for respect for Resolution 1701 "to avoid any repercussions that impact security and stability in the region."
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Sabah also condemned what he termed "Israeli aggression on the Lebanese army" and expressed solidarity with Lebanon, the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.
Yemen, meanwhile, accused Israel of "blatant aggression."
The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, also "strongly condemned" the Israeli "aggression against Lebanon," expressing his support for "Lebanon and its people in their legitimate defence of their borders."
Ihsanoglu called Tuesday's incident "a dangerous escalation that would destabilise the region."
The head of the world's largest grouping of Muslims also appealed to "the (UN) Security Council and international community to condemn Israeli violations of the territory and airspace of Lebanon."
On Tuesday, Gulf Cooperation Council head Abdulrahman al-Attiyah said the "Israeli aggression on the Lebanese army" was incompatible with the UN charter and international law, in a statement on the GCC's website.
The GCC groups Kuwait and the UAE with Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon and Israel have blamed each other for sparking Tuesday's incident on the border in which two Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and a senior Israeli officer were killed.
Israel said its troops reacted after being fired upon while clearing trees along the border. Lebanon said its troops opened fire only after an Israeli patrol crossed a border fence.
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Kuwait's Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Sabah also condemned what he termed "Israeli aggression on the Lebanese army" and expressed solidarity with Lebanon, the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.
Yemen, meanwhile, accused Israel of "blatant aggression."
The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, also "strongly condemned" the Israeli "aggression against Lebanon," expressing his support for "Lebanon and its people in their legitimate defence of their borders."
Ihsanoglu called Tuesday's incident "a dangerous escalation that would destabilise the region."
The head of the world's largest grouping of Muslims also appealed to "the (UN) Security Council and international community to condemn Israeli violations of the territory and airspace of Lebanon."
On Tuesday, Gulf Cooperation Council head Abdulrahman al-Attiyah said the "Israeli aggression on the Lebanese army" was incompatible with the UN charter and international law, in a statement on the GCC's website.
The GCC groups Kuwait and the UAE with Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon and Israel have blamed each other for sparking Tuesday's incident on the border in which two Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and a senior Israeli officer were killed.
Israel said its troops reacted after being fired upon while clearing trees along the border. Lebanon said its troops opened fire only after an Israeli patrol crossed a border fence.
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