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The Lebanese army again exchanged smoke bomb fire with Israel. Photo/Illustration
BEIRUT – The Lebanese army said they were again involved in a smoke bomb exchange with Israeli troops on the border. This is the second incident in a week.
In a statement, the Lebanese army said Israeli troops had fired smoke bombs at a Lebanese patrol accompanying workers eliminating “violations” that the army said were committed by Israel north of the Blue Line.
“Lebanese military forces responded by firing smoke bombs at enemy troops,” said the statement as quoted by The New Arab, Thursday (28/9/2023).
The current demarcation line between the two countries is known as the Blue Line, a UN-mapped border that marks the withdrawal line for Israeli troops when they left southern Lebanon in 2000.
The Israeli military said it used “riot dispersal means” against Lebanese soldiers in the Blue Line area and Lebanese troops fired tear gas grenades. It said no Israeli soldiers were reported injured.
The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, said it was fully engaged with the parties involved to defuse the situation.
Tensions flared along the border this summer, with rockets fired towards Israel as Israeli violence escalated in the occupied or besieged Palestinian territories, and heavily armed members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group or its supporters facing off against Israeli forces.
The incident that occurred on Wednesday was the second in a week after soldiers from both countries also exchanged fire with tear gas and smoke bombs over a similar dispute on the Blue Line.
(ian)
