German Cabinet Gives Green Light to Lebanon Mission

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday her cabinet had approved sending frigates and fast patrol boats with up to 2,400 navy troops to secure Lebanon's coast as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force for the country. Parliament's likely approval of the mission to the Middle East would be of historic significance for the country.

"This is a mission unlike any other ... for me it has an historic dimension," said Merkel in reference to what will be the first German military deployment in the Middle East since the end of World War II.

Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said Germany would lead the marine component of the UN force and has been given a "a robust but not agressive mandate" to patrol Lebanon's coast.

"We will control the whole of Lebanon's waters, within 50 nautical miles of the coast. We will have the right to use force against vessels that show resistance," he said.

The marine force will help prevent arms from being smuggled to Hezbollah fighters by way of sea.

Cooperation with Lebanon

Initially, said Jung, there would be 1,500 German soldiers patrolling the area, and the mission's mandate will be limited through August 31, 2007.

Two frigates, four fast patrol boats, two supply ships, one tender, and two helicopters will be deployed by Germany in cooperation with naval forces being sent by the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, said Merkel and Jung.

Merkel stressed, like Jung, that the mission had a "robust ... but not offensive mandate." She said a Lebanese naval liaison officer would be aboard one of the German ships "but there would be no chance for a veto" from the Lebanese.

Naval force to arrive by early October

Merkel earlier ruled out sending ground troops to join UN forces in Lebanon due to the fear, as she put it, that Germans could even "accidently" aim their weapons at Israelis.

"This mission comes in view of our special responsibility for Israel," said Merkel in reference to the atrocities committed by Germans during World War II.

German naval vessels would then be able to take up position off the Lebanese coast by early October.

Germany is also providing a small number of border police and customs officials to be stationed at Beirut International Airport to supervise incoming cargo.