Lebanon decided on Saturday to create a mobile force backed by German experts to combat an influx of weapons trafficked into the country from Syria, the government said.
"The government approved the formation of a force composed of soldiers, security agents and customs officers ... charged with controlling the northern border with Syria," said Information Minister Ghazi Aridi. "The force will be assisted by German experts," Aridi told reporters at the end of a government meeting.
Germany will supply Lebanon's customs authorities with equipment that will help it to detect weapons under an agreement reached this week. The assistance falls within the scope of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
The resolution ended last year's 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, and calls for the prevention of illegal arms sales and smuggling. A report made earlier this year by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon found "serious breaches" of the arms embargo imposed under the UN resolution, which the United States says Syria or Iran breach to supply arms to Hezbollah.
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