MGLE01: UNIFIL COMMANDER SAYS HIZBALLAH IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001540

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PTER IO
SUBJECT: MGLE01: UNIFIL COMMANDER SAYS HIZBALLAH IS
BUILDING AND ISRAEL IS WATCHING

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and
(d)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The UNIFIL Force Commander, General Alain
Pellegrini, confirmed to IO A/S Silverberg that UNIFIL has
recently observed increased construction activities at
Hizballah positions on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line.
Noting that the new outposts were more sophisticated in their
design and required more material resources, Pelligrini
speculated that the LAF may be cooperating with Hizballah in
construction of these outposts. Pellegrini also offered that
the pending renewal of the UNIFIL mandate - set to expire in
July - could provide the opportunity to leverage the Lebanese
to greater cooperation with UNIFIL and the establishment of a
joint planning cell. End Summary.


2. (C) On May 16, IO A/S Kristen Silverberg, DCM, and emboff
visited the UNIFIL headquarters compound in Naqoura, South
Lebanon, and toured sections of the Blue Line, stopping at
the UNIFIL post opposite Rumeish. In an extended briefing
with the UNIFIL Force Commander, General Alain Pellegrini,
UNIFIL Senior Adviser Milos Strugar and other senior UNIFIL
staff, the scope of UNIFIL's 2000-troop operations was
outlined. Pellegrini characterized Blue Line activites on
both sides as "unrealistic anxieties." He believed that
tensions related to Shebaa Farms could heat up during the
coming months.

BUILT TO LAST: HIZBALLAH'S NEW DIGS
--------------


3. (C) In response to A/S Silverberg's questions about the
Hizballah positions along the Blue Line, Pellegrini and
Strugar were keen to share that there has been a notable
increase in Hizballah's construction activities. UNIFIL
personnel have observed that the new posts are more
sophisticated in design. Pellegrini believes that the amount
of planning and construction materials required in the
construction of these new facilities far surpasses that of
previous outposts. UNIFIL personnel deem these new building
projects as having a particular "military sophistication"
lacking in previous iterations. Pellegrini and Strugar
speculated that these new facilities were perhaps in
preparation for an eventual Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
deployment, and were thus being constructed in cooperation
with the LAF. He added that he had raised this possibility
with Lebanon's Foreign Minister the previous day, but did not
receive a clear response.


4. (C) As for the Israeli side, Pellegrini noted that recent
Israeli air violations of the Blue Line by both manned and
unmanned aircraft appear to be focused on intelligence
gathering. Pellegrini believed that the heightened Israeli
anxiety is unwarranted, because Hizballah recognizes that at
this time it cannot afford to be seen as fueling conflict on
behalf of Syria or Iran. For their part, the Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF) have as recently as two days ago notified UNIFIL
of their intention to move the technical fence in the area
south of Rumeish closer to the Blue Line. Pellegrini
explained that the movement of the fence would effectively
cut off access to fields tended to by a 72 year-old Lebanese
farmer. While there is currently a "gentlemen's agreement"
to continue to allow the farmer access, the UNIFIL staff
agreed that the Israelis would not hesitate to alter the
deployment of the technical fence should they continue to
feel increasingly threatened by possible infiltration and
kidnapping operations by Hizballah.


COOPERATION WITH LAF COULD BE WORSE
--------------


5. (C) Noting the pending expiry of UNIFIL's mandate in
July, A/S Silverberg suggested that the upcoming renewal
process could provide an opportunity to spur the GOL into
increasing its activities in the South. Pellegrini and
Strugar agreed, adding that LAF cooperation with UNIFIL has
been limited and sporadic. Strugar noted that the Joint
Security Force (JSF),"never takes the initiative" in working
with UNIFIL until the lead-up to a mandate renewal.
Currently, the LAF has four officers and six NCOs stationed
at Naqoura as liaison with the UNIFIL command. Pellegrini
offered that the UNIFIL mandate renewal process could be the
means to establish a formalized joint planning cell with the

BEIRUT 00001540 002 OF 002


LAF which could produce concrete plans. UNIFIL had submitted
a proposal along these lines to the Lebanese Foreign
Minister. Pellegrini cautioned that any such initiative
should be seen as coming directly as a result of UNIFIL-GOL
negotiation, passing through the UNSYG to the Security
Council.


6. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Silverberg.
FELTMAN