The blue line ignites
(B2) Shooting took place between Hezbollah and Israel on the blue line which separates Lebanon from Israel. A Spanish Blue Helmet has died. According to the account given by UN observers, the shooting began on the Lebanese side.
First shots in the morning
« At approximately 11:30 a.m. this morning, UNIFIL observed the launching of six rockets in the direction of Israel from the vicinity of Wazzani, north of Maysat, in the UNIFIL area of operations. “said a spokesperson for the Mission in a press release. Israeli forces then responded with artillery fire. The UNIFIL peacekeeper - who was deployed at a UN post near Ghajar - was badly hit, before succumbing shortly afterwards to his injuries.
Other shots in the early afternoon
General Luciano Portolano, was then " in direct contact with the parties in order to help maintain control of the situation and avoid a further escalation of violence”. But in the meantime, around 13:30 p.m., five more rockets were fired from the Kfar Shouba area towards Israel, provoking a new salvo of return fire from Israeli artillery ».
« The precise cause of death (of the peacekeeper) is still undetermined and is currently under investigation “, we say to UNIFIL. Israel for its part deplores the death of 2 soldiers - including the commander of the battalion Tzabar, captain Yochai Kalangel and Sergeant Dor Haim Nini (names released by IDF) — and 7 wounded.
A clear violation of resolution 1701 for the UN and the EU
The strength of the United Nations reinforced its presence on the ground and intensified its patrols in the area of operations in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. For now, the situation along the Blue Line is calm “, specifies the spokesman of the UNIFIL. This incident is a serious violation of resolution 1701 according to General Portolano. Sentiment shared by the European Union, which calls for a " immediate cessation of hostilities ". " Threats to Israel on its northern border must end underlines the High Representative of the EU, Federica Mogherini in a press release published in the evening. " An escalation of violence could be to the detriment of the region as a whole in these difficult times “, she adds (download declaration in English).
NB: the blue line was drawn in June 2000 by the UN, after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.