Yesterday, March 4, under the protection of two Merkava tanks, Israeli engineering corps vehicles approached and broke ground on a dirt road that Israel plans to build, starting from its positions along the Lebanese border in Ras al-Jabal all the way down to the Wazzani river, intersected by the Blue Line that separates both countries. Lebanon has voiced concern about the move, raising speculation that it might lead to heightened tensions along the border.
A high-ranking Lebanese Army officer gave Al-Monitor further details about this issue, which has been simmering behind the scenes for almost two weeks. He told Al-Monitor that the issue emerged late last month, when Israel sent Lebanon a letter through the command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces who are stationed in the area under UN Resolution 1701. The letter said that Israel planned to build a narrow road extending from its positions inside Israel all the way to the Blue Line along the Wazzani river.
