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A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 12 december 2018

Lebanon: Israel border tunnel operation won’t endanger calm

By SARAH EL DEEB liament speaker Tuesday
Associated Press and informed them that
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s UNIFIL experts have in-
president said Tuesday Is- spected two tunnels near
rael’s operation to destroy Metulla, along the border
what it says is a series of north of Israel.
cross-border attack tunnels “This is a serious matter and
built by the militant Hezbol- UNIFIL is working in close co-
lah group won’t endanger ordination with the parties
the calm along the fron- both at the technical level
tier, adding that his country as well as at the leadership
takes the issue seriously. level to ensure that all re-
Michel Aoun spoke hours lated facts are objectively
before Israeli Prime Minister determined and diligently
Benjamin Netanyahu vis- addressed in line with UN
ited the border where he Security Council Resolu-
said the Israeli military has tion 1701,” Del Col said in a
discovered a third tunnel. statement.
“If Hezbollah makes the big Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, said
mistake and decides in any that Lebanon is prepared
way to harm us or to resist to address the issue after
the operation we are con- assessing a full report on
ducting, it will be hit in a the situation.
way it cannot even imag- Lebanese President Michel Aoun, right, shakes hands with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van Aoun said the United States
ine,” said Netanyahu. Der Bellen, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. has informed Lebanon that
The Israeli army said its sol- Associated Press Israel has “no aggressive
diers placed explosives in counterparts are sched- Iran’s proxies here, in their of State Mike Pompeo to intentions,” adding that his
the tunnel revealed Tues- uled for Wednesday. attempt to dig tunnels un- discuss the operation. country harbored none ei-
day, warning Iran-backed “It will make it unequivocal- der the border,” Netanya- The peacekeeping force, ther.
Hezbollah against enter- ly clear that Israel maintains hu said. or UNIFIL, confirmed the “We are ready to remove
ing it. Netanyahu said an its right and obligation to Shortly before the launch presence of two tunnels the causes of the disagree-
Israeli military delegation act against an Iranian mili- of the operation last week, along the border. The mis- ments, but after we get the
is heading to Russia to ex- tary entrenchment in Syria, Netanyahu flew on a sur- sion’s head, Maj. Stefano full report and decide what
plain the border operation. also a Hezbollah entrench- prise trip to Brussels where Del Col, said he met with are the issues we need to
The meetings with Russian ment in Syria and that of he met with U.S. Secretary Aoun and Lebanon’s par- handle,” Aoun said.q

Thousands of Albanian students step up rally against fees

Associated Press joined them in a peaceful testers to “build the bridge
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — protest. of communication with the
Public university students After an ultimatum to the government.”
protesting the cost of tu- government to fulfill their Rama blamed the oppo-
ition fees have gathered demands expired at 4 p.m. sition for pushing the stu-
for the largest rally to date, (1500 GMT), students dis- dents to prevent dialogue,
threatening to escalate it persed in three groups — while the main opposition
unless their demands are one stayed at the ministry, Democratic Party leader
met. the other at a nearby cross- Lulzim Basha said they sup-
Thousands of students on road and the third in front ported the students.
Tuesday held posters, blew of the main government Their demands include cut-
vuvuzelas and shouted building, pledging to stay ting tuition fees in half, set-
“Lower the tariffs!” in front there overnight. ting a higher budget for
of the Education Ministry. Prime Minister Edi Rama education and a greater
University and school students wave Albanian flags as they Students from other cities appealed for calm on student presence on deci-
protest in Tirana, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018.
Associated Press and Tirana high schools Facebook, asking the pro- sion-making boards. q