UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has completed its investigation into an Aug. 3 incident between Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here Wednesday.
The exchange of fire took place at the UN-maintained border between the two countries, referred to as the Blue Line, in the area of El Adeisse and resulted in the deaths of two Lebanese soldiers and one Israeli officer. The clash allegedly began after an Israeli patrol cut down a tree that Lebanese forces said was in Lebanon's territory.
Nesirky said that UNIFIL said "both the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces cooperated fully with the UNIFIL team during the investigation, and that the report confirms the preliminary conclusions of UNIFIL."
The preliminary conclusion by UNIFIL was that the tree was in fact on Israel's side of the Blue Line.
"The UNIFIL force commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas said he hoped that this report would assist the parties in preventing the recurrence of such incidents," Nesirky said at a daily news briefing.
Cuevas himself said on August 19 that he does not think that Israel or Lebanon want any escalation of border clashes.
The findings of the report, as well as its recommendations and conclusions have been sent to the concerned parties and the UN headquarters as well as the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), said Nesirky.
He added that the report will go to the Security Council for review, but he was unsure when this would happen.
Related:
UNIFIL commander: Lebanon, Israel avoid escalation in clashes
BEIRUT, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Commander of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) General Alberto Asarta Cuevas said Thursday that Lebanon and Israel don't want any escalation in their clashes in the border areas.
The commander said in a statement that during a meeting held on Wednesday night between Lebanese and Israeli officers, the two sides said they do not want to escalate the clashes. Full story
