VZCZCXRO8033
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHLB #1540/01 1371404
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171404Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3563
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

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