The UN peacekeeping force in South Lebanon on Tuesday denied Israeli press reports that it had been covering up incidents involving the Hezbollah militia, which fought the 2006 July War with Israel.

“The allegations made in the Israel daily Haaretz that UNIFIL was 'intentionally concealing information,’ 'presenting half truths,’ 'misleading the (UN) Security Council,’ or 'whitewashing' information about Hezbollah activities, are without any basis,” said the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Haaretz, quoting senior Israeli officials, said on Monday that UNIFIL was concealing information of incidents in an effort to avoid a confrontation with the Shia militia Hezbollah.

Over the past six months, UNIFIL failed to take action or notify the Security Council over four incidents with armed militants from Hezbollah, according to the daily.

UNIFIL insisted in a statement that "in the event of any incident ... UNIFIL follows standard procedures that include immediate action necessary to address the situation on the group."

“UNIFIL also immediately informs the Security Council about all developments on the ground,” it said.

The force was set up in 1978 and reinforced after the July War between Israel and Hezbollah that ended with a UN ceasefire resolution banning armed Hezbollah guerrillas from entering the border zone with Israel.

-AFP/NOW Staff