Yesterday, Lebanese and Israeli forces exchanged smoke and sound bombs at the Shebaa Farms on the border between the two countries.
The Lebanese army said that it fired tear gas at Israeli forces on the border yesterday, in response to attacks with smoke bombs fired at its forces, but Israel said that it was the Lebanese side that started the clashes.
The Lebanese army said in a statement: “Members of the Israeli army violated the withdrawal line and fired smoke bombs towards a Lebanese army patrol while accompanying a bulldozer that was removing an earthen berm that the Israeli army had erected north of the withdrawal line (Blue Line) in the Bastara area – south.”
The line separating the two countries is known as the “Blue Line,” which is a border drawn by the United Nations and represents the line to which Israeli forces withdrew when they left southern Lebanon in 2000. The Lebanese army added: “The patrol members responded to the attack by firing tear gas bombs towards the Israeli army members, “What forced them to withdraw.”
The Israeli army said that Lebanon was the one who started the violence.
He added in a statement: “Israeli army soldiers spotted an engineering bulldozer crossing the Blue Line from Lebanon into Israeli territory in the Mount Dov area, and in response, Israeli army soldiers used riot dispersal means.” The army continued: “The vehicle returned to Lebanese territory.”
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed in the area, reported that there was tension yesterday.
Force spokesman Andrea Tenenti said: “(UNIFIL) is in contact with both parties to calm tensions and prevent any misunderstandings.” At the present moment, we are on the ground, monitoring the situation and trying to restore calm to the area.”
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2023-09-23 22:00:39
