Lebanon marks 65th Independence Day
Lebanon's Hizbullah conducted secret military maneuvers north and south of the Litani River Saturday morning, coinciding with a military parade by Lebanese armed forces in downtown Beirut marking Independence Day.
The al-Arabiya television network reported on Saturday that Hizbullah didn't use any weapons in its maneuvers; rather training its elements on mountain deployments and other military actions.
The television network pointed that the Shiite movement was conducting its maneuvers despite UNSCR 1701, a resolution that bans Hizbullah from south of the Litani River.
On Saturday, the Lebanese state celebrated its 65th independence day anniversary, an event that was attended by the President of the Republic Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora , Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Lebanese and foreign dignitaries.
According to Naharnet, symbolic units from all branches of the Lebanese armed forces participated in the official military parade in downtown Beirut. For the first times since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war in Lebanon two military Hawker Hunter aircrafts participated in the parade. Helicopter squadrons flew over the military parade carrying the national flag.
At the end of the parade President Suleiman accompanied by Prime Minister Saniora, Parliament Speaker Berri left to Baadda's Presidential Palace to receive official delegations and citizens congratulating them on the occasion.