High tension on the border between Lebanon and Israel

Sharp tension Friday, June 9 at the border between Lebanon and Israel where the armies of the two countries, technically at war since 1948, faced each other for hours. The Israeli army fired tear gas at Lebanese protesters who threw stones. Peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, carried out a "massive deployment" to avoid any escalation.

High tension Friday, June 9, 2023 at the border between Lebanon and Israel. The tension reached its peak when a Lebanese soldier pointed an RPG rocket launcher at the turret of a Merkava tank stationed a stone's throw away. AFP - MAHMOUD ZAYYAT

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With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

At some points on the demarcation line, only ten meters separated Lebanese soldiers from Israeli soldiers on the Kfarchouba hills, in the extreme south-east of Lebanon.

The tension reached its peak when a Lebanese soldier pointed an RPG rocket launcher at the turret of a Merkava tank stationed a stone's throw away.

The incidents erupted when local residents staged a solidarity march with a Lebanese farmer on Friday. Ismail Nasser was nearly buried Wednesday by an Israeli military bulldozer that was carrying out consolidation work on his land in this Lebanese area occupied by Israel.

Israeli soldiers and Lebanese protesters clashed with tear gas canisters and stone-throwing.

Both armies brought reinforcements to the demarcation line, which the protesters eventually crossed. Lebanese soldiers took up positions near the barbed wire installed by the Israelis.

UNIFIL peacekeepers deployed massively between the belligerents to avoid a slippage.

After intense contacts by the UN force at the highest level with both countries, calm has gradually returned to the border area. But the tension remained palpable.

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Lebanon
  • Israel
  • Defense