BEIRUT, Lebanon  - A UN envoy said on Wednesday he has relayed to Lebanese officials Israeli concerns over arms smuggling into Lebanon from Syria, a backer of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

"There are concerns that were raised from Israel with us about reports of smuggling bombs (into Lebanon) from Syria, which we in our turn raised with the Lebanese government," said Michael Williams, special advisor to the UN secretary general for the Middle East.

After talks with foreign ministry officials, Williams went on to meet with leading Hezbollah member Mohammed Fneish, who along with a colleague submitted his resignation from the government in December.

"I expect from Hezbollah what will be expected from all parties: absolute commitment to (UN Security Council Resolution) 1701... including the issue of the prisoners," he told reporters.

After the meeting with Fneish, Williams said "we are pleased with the commitment of Hezbollah to the resolution. We are pleased by the commitment of all parties."

Resolution 1701, which put an end to a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in August 2006, demanded the pullout of the Israeli army from south Lebanon and its replacement by a UN-backed Lebanese army deployment.

The resolution called for the disarming of all militias -- an allusion to Hezbollah as well as Palestinian militant groups -- and the prevention of illegal arms sales and smuggling operations in Lebanon.

It also called for the unconditional release of Israeli soldiers abducted by Hezbollah and the prompt settlement of the issue of Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel.

Israel launched a massive offensive after the July 12 capture of two of its soldiers in a cross-border raid by Hezbollah which was seeking to impose a prisoner exchange.

Williams said "we would like to see more progress" on a prisoner exchange and insisted that Israeli overflights amounted to a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.

On Tuesday, Williams told Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora he had "forcefully" raised Israel's persistent violations of Lebanese airspace with officials in the Jewish state.

Israel says the flights are necessary to monitor what it charges is rampant arms smuggling to Hezbollah from neighbouring Syria.