Libyan official denies involvement in Lutfallah II case
A Libyan official, who requested anonymity, said that the Libyan authorities were “not involved” in the issue of the Lutfallah II vessel, which was intercepted by the Lebanese security authorities off the coast of the northern city of Batroun and was believed to be carrying weapons to Syrian rebels.
“We took a formal decision to not send any weapons or gunmen to Syria, although we are upset by what is happening [in the country]; we are in a situation that does not allow us to provide support to the Syrian [opposition],” the unnamed official told As-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.
“Maybe some eager individuals are trying to help the Syrian rebels, but we are not formally involved in [weapons smuggling]. Our stance is clear,” he added.
The Lebanese navy intercepted three containers of weapons destined for Syrian rebel forces on board a ship originating from Libya, a security official told AFP on Saturday. Syrian authorities have repeatedly charged that weapons were being smuggled from Lebanon into Syria to assist rebels seeking the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
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Allouch says Future Movement not involved in Lutfallah II vessel issue
Future Movement official Mustafa Allouch said on Monday that his political group was not involved in the issue of the Lutfallah II vessel, which was intercepted by the Lebanese security authorities off the coast of the northern city of Batroun and was believed to be carrying weapons to the Syrian rebels.
During an interview with OTV, Allouch said that the Future Movement “condemns any violation of Lebanese sovereignty, whether committed by Hezbollah or any other group.”
He added that Hezbollah and the Syrian rebels “are similar resistance movements [confronting] injustice and despotism.”
Hezbollah is one of the Syrian regime’s strongest allies in Lebanon. Allouch also told OTV that the “Syrian people have the right to find the [appropriate] means to defend themselves.”
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Who will claim responsibility?
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Lebanon skier hit by gunfire from Syria, security official says
One person was wounded when a group of skiers on Mount Hermon in southeast Lebanon came under machinegun fire from across the border with Syria border on Monday, a security official said.
It was the first cross-border shooting in that part of Lebanon, although Syrian regime forces have opened fire several times in recent months, on one occasion killing a Lebanese television cameraman.
In Monday's incident, four of the skiers were Lebanese and one was Swiss, the security official told AFP.
"They were shot at using light machineguns from across the Syrian side of the border," he said.
One of the Lebanese was hit and taken to hospital for treatment. The army was questioning the rest of the group about the shooting, the source added.
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