Jerusalem, July 15: Lebanon says an Israeli patrol has violated its border, crossing into its territory in the disputed area of Kfar Shuba.
“A patrol of eight enemy (Israeli) soldiers crossed the line of withdrawal at the town of Kfar Shuba in an attempt to abduct a shepherd,” AFP quoted Neeraj Singh, a Lebanese army spokesman, on Thursday.
Neeraj said the shepherd managed to escape the attempt but the Israeli soldiers crossed 20 meters (22 yards) into the UN-drawn Blue Line border.
Blue Line was established after Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon back in 2000, following a 22-year occupation.
The Israeli military invaded Lebanon in June 1982 and occupied parts of the country’s south for over 20 years. Tel Aviv was eventually forced to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon in 2000 in accordance with the 1978 UN Security Council Resolution 425.
Israel has detained Lebanese shepherds in the area in the past — mostly to question them.
Israel again onvaded Lebanon in the summer of 2006 but was as forced to leave the region 33 days later, without achieving any of its objectives and after suffering a humiliating defeat.
The carnage destroyed most of Lebanon’s infrastructure and claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Lebanese — mainly civilians — and more than 160 Israelis — mostly soldiers.
——-Agencies