BEIRUT, Sept 8: Israel lifted its eight-week sea blockade of Lebanon on Friday after an interim maritime task force led by an Italian admiral deployed off the Lebanese coast, the commander of UN peacekeepers said.

“The force is now operational and I understand that the naval blockade is lifted,” UNIFIL head Major-General Alain Pellegrini said in a statement.

“The blockade has seriously undermined the Lebanese economy and it is high time for it to end so as to allow the people to get back to their businesses.”

There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials. The Jewish state had earlier said it was coordinating the handover of control of the coast to UN forces under Pellegrini.

Lebanon has demanded a lifting of the blockade to enable it to speed reconstruction of bridges, homes, roads and factories devastated during a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah.—Reuters