UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has called on militants affiliated with Lebanon’s Hezbollah party to cease their involvement in neighboring Syria’s civil war.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the 15-member council did not specifically refer to Hezbollah by name after objections were voiced by Russia, but it was clear that its comments were aimed at the group, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian president Bashar Assad’s forces against the country’s rebels, in particular the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra.
“The Security Council calls upon all Lebanese parties to recommit to Lebanon’s policy of disassociation, to stand united behind President Michel Sleiman in this regard and to step back from any involvement in the Syrian crisis,” the UN body said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s UN envoy pledged that his country would maintain an open border for the influx of Syrians fleeing the violence.
Lebanon’s UN ambassador, Nawaf Salam, has told reporters that the number of Syrian refugees in his country is now likely to be more than one million.
