BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 23 (UPI) -- Security concerns along the Lebanese border with Israel appear to be relaxing following talks with Lebanese leaders, U.N. officials said.
Beirut had lodged several complaints with the United Nations that Israeli forces were violating the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 by entering Lebanese airspace and territorial waters.
Resolution 1701 ended the 34-day conflict in 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel. It calls on Hezbollah to lay down its weapons, while demanding Israel respect Lebanese sovereignty.
The situation intensified recently as peacekeepers with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon scuffled with demonstrators protesting a raid on a weapons depot that Israel said belonged to Hezbollah.
Area residents along the border had complained UNIFIL troops violated the terms of their mandate by approaching houses without supervision from the Lebanese military, the Lebanese Daily Star reports.
The Lebanese armed forces, for their part, issued warnings to areas residents to avoid activity near the Israeli border, while Hezbollah said Israeli forces had authority to shoot on sight.
Michael Williams, the U.N. special envoy for Lebanon, had discussed the security situation with Lebanese officials, saying the border issue was relaxing, the United Nations says.
"We see the situation as calming down," he said. "All (sides) have assured me strongly that active efforts are under way to reduce the tension and restore stability to the area."
