This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-lebanon-border-shooting.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israeli and Lebanese Soldiers Trade Fire Near Border | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| JERUSALEM — Israeli soldiers shot at two Lebanese soldiers across the Israeli-Lebanese border late Sunday, apparently killing one, hours after a sniper believed to be from the Lebanese Army shot and killed an Israeli soldier in the same area, Israeli military officials said on Monday. As a result Israeli forces were put on heightened alert along the tense but usually calm border. | JERUSALEM — Israeli soldiers shot at two Lebanese soldiers across the Israeli-Lebanese border late Sunday, apparently killing one, hours after a sniper believed to be from the Lebanese Army shot and killed an Israeli soldier in the same area, Israeli military officials said on Monday. As a result Israeli forces were put on heightened alert along the tense but usually calm border. |
| The flare-up began at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday when the Israeli soldier, Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen, 31, was shot and killed while driving in a military vehicle close to the border crossing of Rosh Hanikra, according to the Israeli military. Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Lebanese Army forces had fired at Israeli forces along the border near the Naqoura crossing. | The flare-up began at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday when the Israeli soldier, Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen, 31, was shot and killed while driving in a military vehicle close to the border crossing of Rosh Hanikra, according to the Israeli military. Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Lebanese Army forces had fired at Israeli forces along the border near the Naqoura crossing. |
| Around midnight, Israeli forces were patrolling the area where the shooting had taken place and identified “suspicious movements,” said Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military. She added that “due to the perceived threat” that they posed, the Israeli soldiers had fired “precise shots” at two suspects, who were believed to have been involved in the earlier shooting of Sergeant Cohen. | Around midnight, Israeli forces were patrolling the area where the shooting had taken place and identified “suspicious movements,” said Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military. She added that “due to the perceived threat” that they posed, the Israeli soldiers had fired “precise shots” at two suspects, who were believed to have been involved in the earlier shooting of Sergeant Cohen. |
| Lieutenant Weiss said that the two suspects were members of the Lebanese armed forces and that one was apparently killed. | Lieutenant Weiss said that the two suspects were members of the Lebanese armed forces and that one was apparently killed. |
| “It is in nobody’s interest for things to escalate but it is our right to defend our border,” she added. | “It is in nobody’s interest for things to escalate but it is our right to defend our border,” she added. |
| Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, described the killing of the Israeli soldier as “a very grave incident.” He said that Israel held the Lebanese government and army responsible for what happened on their side of the border and that Israel expected an explanation. | Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, described the killing of the Israeli soldier as “a very grave incident.” He said that Israel held the Lebanese government and army responsible for what happened on their side of the border and that Israel expected an explanation. |
| Mr. Yaalon said that liaison officials from the Israeli and Lebanese armies were expected to meet on Monday with representatives of Unifil, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, in an effort to investigate the episode. | Mr. Yaalon said that liaison officials from the Israeli and Lebanese armies were expected to meet on Monday with representatives of Unifil, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, in an effort to investigate the episode. |
| “We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty along any border,” Mr. Yaalon said. | “We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty along any border,” Mr. Yaalon said. |
| Last week, shots were fired toward an Israeli patrol from across the border, but the Israeli military said it may have been errant fire from Lebanese hunters. | Last week, shots were fired toward an Israeli patrol from across the border, but the Israeli military said it may have been errant fire from Lebanese hunters. |
| In 2006, Israel fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite organization. It began when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several more in a cross-border raid. That conflict ended with a United Nations-brokered cease-fire that has kept the border mostly quiet. | In 2006, Israel fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite organization. It began when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several more in a cross-border raid. That conflict ended with a United Nations-brokered cease-fire that has kept the border mostly quiet. |