The rules of engagement of the UN force in Lebanon might have to be changed to allow the use of force in the future to stop continuing Israeli air violations of Lebanese air space, the French commander of the force suggested on Thursday.
General Alain Pellegrini, commander of the UNIFIL force in Lebanon, told a press briefing here that currently the UN was relying on diplomacy to try to end the violations.
"If the diplomatic means should not be enough, maybe it could be considered other ways," he added, referring to the possible use of anti-aircraft missiles equipping French forces in Lebanon.
But Pellegrini made it clear that such a move would require "new rules of engagement drafted and decided here (at UN headquarters)".
Diplomats questioned here however said there was no plan to change the rules of engagement.
"Air violations is our major concern. They are not to be accepted. Every time these occur, we report them first to the Secretary General immediately and we protest to the Israelis," Pellegrini said.
He added that at the moment UNIFIL had "no other means to prevent these kinds of violations" than diplomacy.
But he pointedly noted that the French contingent of UNIFIL was currently equipped with "anti-aircraft missiles but only for its self-defence."
But he added that "at the moment even if these violations are going on there are less numerous than before," insisting that this was no reason to accept them as they were a "clear violation" of Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the month-long war between Israel and Hizbullah guerrillas in southern Lebanon in August.