Lebanon asks UN to protect gas field from Israel

Lebanon has asked the United Nations to protect the country’s natural gas reserves along the maritime border with Israel.

Lebanese officials accuse Israel of drilling in fields that extend into Lebanon.

Israel denies the allegation.

Texas-based Noble Energy has announced an estimated 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas find in a field off Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami has written to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him to “prevent Israel from exploiting Lebanon’s oil and maritime wealth”.

The United Nations demarcated the land border separating Israel and Lebanon in 2000, but there is no official naval border.