Israel ends Lebanon naval blockade

ISRAEL lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon yesterday after European warships began patrolling to keep out weapons shipments for Hezbollah guerrillas, the head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said.

Maj Gen Alain Pellegrini, the force’s French commander, said he was informed by Israeli officials, and by the Italian commander leading the naval task force, that the blockade had ended after nearly two months.

The international task force began operating off the Lebanese coast just after noon Friday, officials said.