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Lebanon-Israel Border Incident Tests UNIFIL-Hezbollah Ties

Following the Israeli military’s violation of the UN Blue Line this week, the reactions of both UNIFIL and Hezbollah may provide a litmus test for their relationship.
Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman (C), Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam (L) and Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) attend a graduation parade for Lebanese officer cadets at a military academy in Fayadyeh, near Beirut, marking the 68th Army Day, August 1, 2013. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY MILITARY) - RTX126UK
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At dawn on Wednesday, Aug. 7, an Israeli infantry patrol crossed roughly 400 meters into Lebanese territory, in the area of Naqoura. According to preliminary reports obtained by Al-Monitor, the patrol ran over a landmine, wounding four Israeli soldiers. According to sources within Hezbollah, the party is maintaining total silence on the incident, particularly regarding the nature and substance of the material that exploded when the Israeli patrol crossed the Lebanese border. But these sources have noted that in recent months, the Israeli military has increased the frequency with which it violates the Blue Line dividing the two countries. The border is guarded by UNIFIL, the international force that was deployed to the area in accordance with UN Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in the 2006 July war.

According to these sources, the Israeli army has violated the Blue Line more than once in the recent past. Israeli forces have crossed the border roughly three times moving toward the Wazzani River. In doing so, they traverse a small distance toward one of the river's wellsprings within Lebanon on the pretext of seeking to examine the health of the river, which provides water to both Lebanese and Israeli villages.

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