PM: Soldiers actions justified; IDF says troops were patrolling border when Lebanese soldier opened fire on them; no Israeli soldiers wounded.
By YAAKOV KATZ, LAHAV HARKOVLebanese soldiers311(photo credit: REUTERS)
A Lebanese soldier opened fire Monday morning at IDF paratroopers patrolling the northern border.The army said that troops were deployed along the border near the Hatzbani River when a Lebanese soldier opened fire.RELATED:UNIFIL: Both sides want border calmThe path to the next Lebanon War The Israeli soldiers returned fire and Lebanese media reported that at least one Lebanese soldier was wounded.The IDF reported the incident to UNIFIL and said that it was not interested in an escalation.Lebanese news website Naharnet reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces opened fire when IDF soldiers crossed over to their side of the border. The IDF denied this and said that the soldiers were operating in Israel.UNIFIL eventually confirmed that the Israel force had not entered Lebanon.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the soldiers acted properly.
“The soldiers are determined to defend themselves and the border,” Netanyahu said. “What’s important is that we do not want to heat up the conflict on the border with Lebanon.”Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Monday praised the LAF for defending Lebanese sovereignty.Hezbollah said that an IDF attack on a member of the Lebanese army, the “resistance,” or a civilian is equivalent to “an attack on all of Lebanon."
