BEIRUT: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Lebanon to defend itself against terrorism and called on Israel to immediately stop its daily violations of Lebanese airspace.

Ban was quoted in Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar as urging Lebanon to take measures to protect itself against terrorism, in an interview published Friday.

He hailed as very good work done by the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces in combating terrorism.

Israeli warplanes violate Lebanese airspace on almost daily basis in what the Jewish state says are reconnaissance missions.

Ban also called on Israel to immediately end violations of Lebanese sovereignty and of resolution 1701, which he said had created a new strategic environment that should be put in force to reach a permanent ceasefire.

He also expressed his hope that Syria cooperate on the border demarcation issue, to enable Lebanon to control its border in line with U.N. resolution 1680.

Resolution 1680, adopted in 2006, encouraged Syria to respond positively to Lebanon's request to delineate borders and establish diplomatic relations, with the purpose of asserting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

Ban arrives in Beirut Friday for talks with Lebanese leaders likely to center on divisive issues such as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the 10-month unrest in Syria, attacks on UNIFIL and the tense Lebanese-Syria border.