UNIFIL has determined that the trees cut by Israeli troops are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli sides, he said, referring to a UN-drawn border line between Israel and Lebanon after the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000.
The UNIFIL statement added that the area where the clashes took place was a subject of reservation by the Lebanese government when the Blue Line was drawn.
The Israeli government had similar reservations about other sites, the statement noted. However, Lebanon and Israel assured UN secretary general that despite these reservations, they recognize that the drawing of the Blue Line is UN's responsibility and that it is the only side eligible to draw this line, and stressed that they will respect this line as it is, the statement said.
"The investigations are still ongoing and the findings will be intimated on conclusion of the investigations," the statement said.
The statement also stressed that the "Blue Line must be respected in its entirety by all parties. UNIFIL is in contact with both parties to keep the situation under control and to ensure that there is no violation of the Blue Line in this area.
