DUBAI: Israel has lifted its air embargo on Lebanon but has decided to continue with the naval blockade of the Lebanese coastline.

Israel had blocked Lebanon's naval and air space at the start of its conflict with the Hizbollah, which began on July 12. The air embargo ended on Thursday at 1800 hours local time. The resumption of normal air traffic began after a commercial flight by the national carrier Middle East Airlines circled downtown Beirut three times shortly after the embargo was over. This was followed by the arrival of a flight from Paris.

Analysts point out that the naval blockade was likely to be lifted once international forces operating under the banner of the United Nations were fully deployed.

Key European countries were expected to play a dominant role as part of the U.N. force. Among them, Germany would steer the effort of policing the Lebanese coast after the departure of Israeli naval vessels, once the naval blockade was lifted. According to U.N. officials, the other members of the new naval contingent would include France, Italy, Greece and Britain.

This force was expected to prevent transfer of weapons to the Hizbollah from the sea route. German experts were also playing a supervisory role at Beirut airport. Nearly 3,250 multinational troops have been positioned in Lebanon under the U.N.'s flag. This figure could reach 5,000 next week, U.N. officials said.

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