US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley leveled harsh criticism on Friday at Irish Major General Michael Beary, the commander of United Nations forces in Lebanon, accusing him of turning a blind eye to Iran’s covert arming of the Hezbollah militant group.
“General Beary says there are no Hezbollah weapons,” she said. “That’s an embarrassing lack of understanding on what’s going on around him.”
“Hezbollah openly brags about their weapons. They parade them before TV cameras. The secretary general’s reports have confirmed this. For the UNIFIL commander to deny it… has any proof, shows that we need to have changes in UNIFIL,” Haley said.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon tweeted his agreement with the US envoy.
“Ambassador Nikki Haley is right. UNIFIL can’t remain blind to Hezbollah buildup in Lebanon… UNIFIL must immediately stop Hezbollah United Nations Security Council violations to ensure calm in the region,” wrote Danon.
“The Security Council must adopt a strong UNIFIL mandate to address Hezbollah threats,” the Israeli envoy added.
Speaking to reporters, Haley also voiced concern that nuclear inspectors were not granted access to Iranian military bases, and she urged the International Atomic Energy Agency to use all its authority to ensure Tehran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
“I have good confidence in the IAEA, but they are dealing with a country that has a clear history of lying and pursuing covert nuclear programs,” Haley told a news conference after returning from a trip to Vienna, where the IAEA is based.
“We are encouraging the IAEA to use all the authorities they have and to pursue every angle possible” to verify compliance with the nuclear deal,” she said.
Haley made her comments at the United Nations after returning the visit to Vienna, where she met with IAEA as part of President Donald Trump’s review of the Iran nuclear deal made by former President Barack Obama.
Iran’s top authorities have rejected giving international inspectors access to their military sites and officials have told Reuters any such move would trigger harsh consequences.
Source: JPost
