Earlier this week, IDF troops uncovered four explosive devices in the area planted by Hizbollah. Wednesday evening was the first round of cross-border clashes since the UN-brokered cease fire at the end of last summer’s fighting.
The IDF spokesman explained that the IDF activity in the area, which though behind a border fence Israel set up, is still located within Israeli territory, was to neutralize the explosive devices and search for more possible explosives in the area. “Lebanese soldiers nearby fired shots into the air,” an IDF statement recounted. “In response, the IDF communicated to the Lebanese Army via UNIFIL that it has no intention of harming its soldiers. Despite the message, Lebanese soldiers opened fire in the direction of our soldiers, who identified the source of the fire, engaged the source, and confirmed a direct hit.”
The IDF released a statement that it will continue to “act whenever necessary in order to protect the full sovereignty of the State of Israel while strengthening its security arrangements in the north and along the Blue Line in accordance with UN Resolution 1701.”
Although the IDF says there is no truth to the claim, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora insists that IDF troops crossed the Lebanese border line prior to the gun battle.
France’s ambassador to the United Nations has demanded that the UN Security Council discuss the incident. "We think that the council should have an exchange of views on this issue, which is an important one," France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said. "I am just going to ask for a briefing from the secretariat."
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) backed Israel's claims. After investigating the area, UNIFIL officials concluded that IDF forces did not, at any point, cross into Lebanon.