Israel Makes Reinforcements in Disputed Area Near Wazzani River
Israeli troops erected earth mounds and established a military post along the border with Lebanon in an area that oversees the Wazzani river zone of Muntazahat, the National News Agency reported Thursday.
Around three bulldozers, a dredger and 30 soldiers backed by four Merkava tanks and 3 Humvees began the operations in the early morning hours along the border that stretches from the Western side of Ghajar all the way to the al-Hamari.
The NNA said that the works carried out by the Israelis are in an area that Lebanon has expressed reservations over.
But the Jewish state and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon consider it in conformity with the U.N.-drawn Blue Line.
UNIFIL and the Lebanese army scrambled to the area and the military asked the peacekeepers to urge Israel to end the aggression, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said.
But UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told NNA that the mission was informed on Wednesday “by the Israeli army about its intention to carry out some works near Wazzani and UNIFIL immediately informed the Lebanese army about it.”
“During the Israeli works, UNIFIL soldiers and the Lebanese army were present there to monitor the situation and guarantee that there won’t be any violation of the Blue Line,” Tenenti said.
In another related development, Israeli troops carried out drills on the other side of the border in an area between Mais al-Jabal and Blida.
The Lebanese army went on alert and the Nepalese contingent of UNIFIL carried out patrols there.
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