Israeli Army Abducts Two Shepherds near Shebaa

The Israeli army on Tuesday kidnapped two shepherds from a region near the southern town of Shebaa, the state-run National News Agency reported.

"Youssef Hussein Rhayyel and Youssef Mohammed Zahra were abducted into the occupied Shebaa Farms,” the NNA noted.

"The incident took place near an observation point of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's Indian battalion located on the western heights of Jabal al-Sheikh.”

A statement released later by the Army Command elaborated: "A pedestrian Israeli patrol kidnapped shepherds Youssef Zahra and Youssef Rhayyel from the liberated Lebanese territory in Shebaa near al-Naqqar pond."

It also noted that a 20-member Israeli patrol crossed the technical fence in the Kfar Shouba area and advanced 25 meters into an area disputed by Lebanon before withdrawing later.

"Following these incidents, army unit mobilized in the area and took the necessary defensive measures.”

The army communique added: “We also contacted the UNIFL troops to coordinate our efforts and release the kidnapped Lebanese.”

Kidnapping incidents of Lebanese residents by the Israeli forces are frequent.

On November 1, 2012, Israeli authorities handed over to U.N. peacekeepers a Lebanese shepherd who was arrested near the border in southern Lebanon a day earlier.

A 12-strong Israeli force kidnapped Ismail Khalil Nabaa while grazing his flock on the heights of Jabal al-Saddaneh, north of the U.N.-demarcated Blue Line, the NNA said.

The NNA reported on July 16, 2012 that an Israeli force failed to abduct two shepherds from southern Lebanon.

It detailed that 20 soldiers crossed the border at Mount Hermon and infiltrated 500 to 800 meters into Shebaa where it tried to kidnap Mohammed Qassem Hashem from Lebanon and Ahmed Haidar from Syria.

Also, Lebanese shepherd Youssef Mohamed Zahra was abducted in June 2012 by the Israeli army near Shebaa Farms.