Israeli Occupation Troops Cross Border, Exchange Fire with Lebanese Soldiers

Monday, 1 August 2011

Israeli Occupation Troops Cross Border, Exchange Fire with Lebanese Soldiers

Israeli occupation soldiers crossed on Monday the border line between Lebanon and occupied Palestinian territories, prompting an exchange of fire with Lebanese troops.

A Lebanese army official said troops opened fire on Israeli soldiers after they have crossed the border line in al-Wazzani area.

The incident took place when “an Israeli patrol in the Wazzani area crossed the Blue Line and went beyond it about 30 meters”, the official said.
“Lebanese troops stationed in the area fired warning shots. The Israeli patrol retreated and then fired at Lebanese army posts."
Al-Manar correspondent reported that a Lebanese soldier was slightly injured during the attack.

The official further said there were no injuries on the Lebanese side adding that UNIFIL (UN peacekeeping force stationed on the border) was informed of the incident and quickly moved to the area.

However, Israeli military claimed its occupation troops had been fired upon as they worked on the occupied Palestinian side of the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border with Lebanon which was established in 2000.

"Earlier this morning an (Israeli military) force carrying out a routine patrol within Israeli territory near the Israel-Lebanon border was fired upon from the direction of Lebanon," an Israeli occupation military spokeswoman told AFP news agency.
"The force responded by firing towards the source of fire and UNIFIL was informed of the incident," the spokesman added.