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Israel and Lebanon Try to Defuse Tensions After Cross-Border Shooting Israel and Lebanon Try to Defuse Tensions After Cross-Border Shooting
(about 5 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Israel and Lebanon appeared to be trying to defuse tensions on Monday after a cross-border shooting that killed an Israeli soldier and subsequent fire from Israeli forces that may have hit a soldier on the Lebanese side.JERUSALEM — Israel and Lebanon appeared to be trying to defuse tensions on Monday after a cross-border shooting that killed an Israeli soldier and subsequent fire from Israeli forces that may have hit a soldier on the Lebanese side.
Military liaison officers from the two countries met with representatives of Unifil, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, at a border crossing near where the shootings occurred late Sunday to clarify the circumstances and restore calm.Military liaison officers from the two countries met with representatives of Unifil, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, at a border crossing near where the shootings occurred late Sunday to clarify the circumstances and restore calm.
The commander of Unifil, Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra, said preliminary findings indicated that the shooting of the Israeli soldier was “an individual action” by a Lebanese Army soldier “in contravention of the existing operational rules and procedures,” Agence France-Presse reported.The commander of Unifil, Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra, said preliminary findings indicated that the shooting of the Israeli soldier was “an individual action” by a Lebanese Army soldier “in contravention of the existing operational rules and procedures,” Agence France-Presse reported.
The Lebanese Army command issued a statement describing that shooting as an isolated episode and said that a military committee was investigating the matter. The Lebanese Army command issued a statement describing that shooting as an isolated episode and said a military committee was investigating the matter.
Late Sunday, hours after the initial shooting, Israeli troops fired at two Lebanese soldiers in the same area who were described by the Israelis as moving suspiciously. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that at least one of the two Lebanese soldiers was hit by Israeli fire, but there were no reports of casualties from the Lebanese side.Late Sunday, hours after the initial shooting, Israeli troops fired at two Lebanese soldiers in the same area who were described by the Israelis as moving suspiciously. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that at least one of the two Lebanese soldiers was hit by Israeli fire, but there were no reports of casualties from the Lebanese side.
The Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, described the killing of the Israeli soldier, Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen, 31, 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 awaited an explanation. “We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty along any border,” he added. Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, described the killing of the Israeli soldier, Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen, 31, 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 awaited an explanation. “We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty along any border,” he added. But Mr. Yaalon also suggested that the killing was the work of a “rogue” Lebanese soldier, indicating that Israel was unlikely to take any major action against Lebanon.
But Mr. Yaalon also suggested that the killing was the work of a “rogue” Lebanese soldier, indicating that Israel was unlikely to take any major action against Lebanon. The Israel-Lebanon border has been tense but mostly quiet since 2006, when a United Nations-brokered cease-fire ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite organization. The war began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several more in a cross-border raid. Afterward, the Lebanese Army was deployed along the border.
The Israeli-Lebanese border has been tense but mostly quiet since 2006, when a United Nations-brokered cease-fire ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite organization. The war began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several more in a cross-border raid. Afterward, the Lebanese Army was deployed along the border. The flare-up on Sunday began around 8:30 p.m. when Sergeant Cohen was driving from one military base along the border to another as part of his regular military duties, according to Lt. Libby Weiss, a military spokeswoman. Sergeant Cohen was in uniform and driving an army-issued car that had no obvious military markings, Lieutenant Weiss said. The shooting took place near the border crossing of Rosh Hanikra, known as Ras Naqoura in Lebanon.
The flare-up on Sunday began at around 8:30 p.m. when Master Sergeant Cohen was driving from one military base along the border to another as part of his regular military duties, according to Lt. Libby Weiss, the military spokeswoman. Lieutenant Weiss said he was in uniform and driving an army-issued car that had no obvious military markings. The shooting took place near the border crossing of Rosh Hanikra, known as Ras Naqoura in Lebanon.
“It is in nobody’s interest for things to escalate, but it is our right to defend our border,” Lieutenant Weiss said.“It is in nobody’s interest for things to escalate, but it is our right to defend our border,” Lieutenant Weiss said.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had circled over various regions of Lebanon on Monday, and Lieutenant Weiss said Israeli forces in the area were placed on heightened alert. Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had circled over various regions of Lebanon on Monday, and Lieutenant Weiss said that Israeli forces in the area were placed on heightened alert.
Shots were fired toward an Israeli patrol from across the border last week, but the Israeli military said that shooting may have been errant fire from Lebanese hunters.Shots were fired toward an Israeli patrol from across the border last week, but the Israeli military said that shooting may have been errant fire from Lebanese hunters.