UNIFIL comments on Kfar Chouba confrontations between locals, IOF

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
9 Jun 2023 17:43
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UNIFIL calls for diffusing the tense situation by employing coordination mechanisms.

UNIFIL forces are on standby on the Lebanese side of the border, June 9, 2023 (AFP)

The official spokesperson of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Andrea Tenenti announced that they were following closely the recent events in the border village (in the triangle border intersection between Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine), and called for employing coordination mechanisms to diffuse the tense situation to prevent any violations.

"UNIFIL peacekeepers are on the ground. They have been on the ground since the beginning to maintain the status quo of the cessation of hostilities, to establish calm, and to help ease tensions," said Tenenti.

"UNIFIL is in contact with the parties, and is striving to find solutions," calling on both sides to "exercise restraint and avoid actions that might lead to an escalation of tension along the Blue Line."

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the area reported on Thursday that the Israeli occupation forces bulldozed past what is referred to as the "withdrawal line" in the occupied Kfar Chouba village in South Lebanon.

Lebanese youths from the village confronted the occupation forces and removed the barbed wires and started filling back the trench.

Earlier today, The Lebanese Army announced that it is deploying units on the southern Lebanon border after Israeli occupation forces attacked civilians from Kafr Chouba and Al-Arqoub villages with tear gas amid the heavy presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The civilians were protesting the bulldozing of their lands by the occupation forces that trespassed into Lebanese territory earlier this week and dug a trench and set up barbed wires in clear violation of sovereignty.

Israeli media warned of the rare "event [that] occurred on the border: a Lebanese army soldier aiming an RPG at an Israeli tank."

The Israeli Maariv channel gave special focus to scenes broadcast by the Al Mayadeen channel showing the Lebanese army forces positioning themselves and pointing their weapons at Israeli military vehicles and troops on the occupied-Palestinian side of the border.

The military affairs correspondent for Israeli Makor Rishon newspaper said, "This is the picture that Nasrallah wants to broadcast, of their [Lebanese Army] confrontation with the Israeli army and a soldier aiming a shoulder-fired missile at the Israeli forces."

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the area highlighted that this is the first time since the liberation in 2000 that the Lebanese army is deployed to this area.