Written question asked by Philip Hollobone (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 June 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 June 2015 (named day). It was answered by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Monday, 8 June 2015 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Middle East

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat to the security of Israel from the cross-border tunnel system and the rocket arsenal Hezbollah has developed in southern Lebanon.

Answer: We are concerned by continuing reports that Hizballah maintains a cross-border tunnel system in Southern Lebanon and significant stockpiles of missiles which could threaten Israel. These weapons are in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates that “there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state”. Following fighting which took place between Hizballah and the Israel Defence Forces in January, we have continued to urge all parties to cooperate with UN Interim Force in Lebanon in order to maintain calm along the border and to refrain from further provocative acts. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Secondary information