Lebanon Complains to UNIFIL over Israel’s Removal of Barbed Wire at Fatima Gate

The Lebanese army complained to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on Wednesday over Israel’s removal of the barbed wire at the Fatima Gate in the South.

It issued a strong complaint to UNIFIL over the incident, which has left the border between Lebanon and Israel completely open and exposed to violations from either side, reported National News Agency.

NNA noted that this is the second time that the international force had ignored Israel’s deliberate failure to place barriers after removing the barbed wire.

Israel had removed the barbed wire in order to continue its construction of the border wall on the Israeli side of the border adjacent to Kfar Killa in Lebanon, explained NNA.

The army has succeeded in once again thwarting the Israeli army from taking over Lebanese territory at the Fatima Gate, it added.

After the complaint, the Israeli army ceased its activity and UNIFIL troops began placing barriers at the exposed territory.

The Israeli unit then continued its construction after UNIFIL completed its work.

The Israeli activity came under the close monitoring of the Lebanese army and UNFIL.

Last week, the Israeli military began building a wall that will run several kilometers along part of its border with Lebanon, a military spokeswoman told Agence France Presse.

"This construction, which began on Monday, is being carried out in coordination with UNIFIL and the Lebanese army. The wall is intended to avoid frictions on the border," she said.

Israeli public radio said the wall would be several meters high and intended to protect the Israeli border town of Metulla from fire coming from the Lebanese side. It is expected to take several weeks to build.

Israel's military announced the project in January, saying it would protect recently-constructed apartment blocks in Metulla from sniper fire coming from the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila.

On May 3, Israeli troops violated the Blue Line as they were constructing the wall.

Israel and Lebanon are technically at war but military officers from the two sides meet regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL to coordinate security along their joint border.