'Verbal Dispute' with UNIFIL as Israel Violates Lebanon Territorial, Maritime Sovereignty

An Israeli patrol crossed Lebanon's border and penetrated 50 meters into the outskirts of the southern town of Shebaa on Thursday, sparking a verbal dispute with peacekeepers from the Indian UNIFIL battalion who are positioned in the area.

“At 9:30 am, an Israeli enemy pedestrian patrol crossed the withdrawal line and penetrated 50 meters into the outskirts of the Jabal al-Shahel area in Shebaa inside Lebanese territory, before retreating to the occupied territories,” the Lebanese army said in a statement.

Earlier on Thursday, Lebanon's National News Agency said Israeli forces crossed the border line into the liberated Jabal al-Shahel region, that lies west of the occupied Shebaa Farms.

The eight-member infantry patrol infiltrated into the liberated zone “for a distance of around 100 to 150 meters,” NNA said.

It reached an area close to an observation post of the UNIFIL's Indian battalion.

A verbal dispute then erupted between the Israelis and the Indian peacekeepers, which led to the withdrawal of the Israeli forces half an hour later, the agency said.

Separately, the Lebanese army said “three Israeli helicopters violated the Lebanese airspace over Lebanon's territorial waters for a distance of 200 meters at 1:30 pm, firing 10 missile-deflecting balloons.”

The territorial and maritime violations are being followed up in coordination with UNIFIL, the army said.

In the morning, Israeli construction workers equipped with several cranes dismantled an iron barrier surrounding an Israeli observation post in Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh).

The procedure is an annual routine that kicks off with the beginning of the winter season. The iron barrier is re-installed early in summer.