Tension was observed in the border area between Lebanon and Israel on Saturday morning, after Israeli forces launched smoke and sound bombs towards a unit of the Lebanese army that was accompanying a Lebanese bulldozer. The bulldozer was engaged in removing debris thrown into liberated land from the Bastara farms in the Shebaa Farms during bulldozing operations conducted two days prior. The army personnel responded similarly, throwing smoke bombs toward the Israeli elements, who retreated for a while before returning with a heavy barrage of sound and smoke bombs.
The army's command – Directorate of Guidance issued a statement regarding the incident, stating: "Elements from the Israeli enemy breached the withdrawal line this morning, launching smoke bombs towards a Lebanese army patrol while accompanying a bulldozer removing an earthen barrier established by the Israeli enemy north of the withdrawal line (the contested blue line) in the Bastara area – south. The patrol's elements responded to the attack by launching tear gas canisters at the enemy elements, forcing them to withdraw to occupied Palestinian territory."
In this context, the spokesperson for "UNIFIL," Andrea Tenenti, emphasized that the force is present on the ground to calm the situation and that its leadership is in contact with the parties to ease tensions and prevent misunderstandings. Mutual alertness was recorded, with the Israeli army deploying a "Merkava" tank in response to the movement of the Lebanese bulldozer.
