UN force in Lebanon says no evidence of weapon smuggling

BEIRUT – The head of the U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon says his force has no evidence that weapons are being illegally transferred to the country's south, pushing back against U.S. and Israeli criticism of the mission.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the force, known as UNIFIL, which is due to expire Aug. 31.

U.S. and Israel officials have called for improvements in its efforts to prevent the Hezbollah expanding its arsenal following the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.

Maj. Gen. Michael Beary says the 10,500-strong force has successfully maintained the peace for more than a decade.

"We should not be looking to upset that," he told The Associated Press Wednesday aboard the UNIAO, the Brazilian flagship for the UNIFIL maritime force.