Israel accuses Hezbollah militants of disguising as environmental activists on Lebanon border

Israel's army has repeated accusations that Hezbollah is operating an observation post near the Lebanon-Israel border under the guise of an environmental group, a claim previously rejected by the UN.

Army spokesman Avichay Adraee made the accusations on Twitter, saying that members of the Shia Islamist movement were posing as environmentalists at the Green Without Borders post.

Adraee posted photos to Twitter, alleging that Hezbollah operatives were gathering intelligence.

The spokesman said this was in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates the withdrawal of Israeli and Lebanese forces from the border area.

#عاجل كشف النقاب: موقع استطلاع أمامي جديد لحزب الله الإرهابي لجمع الاستخبارات على الحدود اللبنانية تحت غطاء جمعية #أخضر_بلا_حدود - صور جديدة توثق نشطاء #حزب_الله في الموقع بما يشكل انتهاكًا لقرار مجلس الأمن 1701 pic.twitter.com/SQBrkmIU2n

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) June 8, 2022

Israel has previously accused Green Without Borders of being funded by Hezbollah and giving the activists cover.

However, a two-year observation of the NGO's activities by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon found that no UNSC resolutions were being violated.

According to its own publications, Green Without Borders is a non-profit focused on re-foresting,  green spaces, and fighting forest fires.

Tensions have risen between Lebanon and Israel in recent weeks after Israel moved a gas production vessel into an offshore field, waters claimed by Beirut.

Israel also recently concluded military drills on Cyprus which simulated a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.