UNIFIL press statement on Labouneh incident

9 Aug 2013

UNIFIL press statement on Labouneh incident

Even as UNIFIL investigators are working on the case, it is clear that the presence of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon in violation of the Blue Line constitutes a serious breach of the terms of UN Security Council resolution 1701. UNIFIL has strongly protested the violation to the IDF and called for its full cooperation with UNIFIL’s investigations into the incident.

Given the seriousness of the incident, it is very important for UNIFIL to establish what exactly happened that night. This requires full cooperation from both the parties and accordingly we have also asked the LAF Command to provide us with any relevant information it might have in this connection.

UNIFIL investigation team has already been to the location and continues to work in coordination with the LAF on the ground to determine all the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. Now, it is imperative that we allow our investigations to bring out the facts of the incident.

I intend to present to both the parties the findings of UNIFIL’s investigations at the next tripartite meeting to be held later this month. UNIFIL’s primary objective is to determine the precise nature of the violation of resolution 1701 so that we can work with the parties to prevent any recurrence of such incidents or any related tensions that could escalate the situation.”

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7 August 2013

UNIFIL was informed by the LAF this morning that last night an IDF patrol had crossed the Blue Line in the general area of Labouneh and that there had subsequently been an explosion at the location causing injuries to some IDF soldiers.

On receiving this information from the LAF, UNIFIL immediately launched an investigation into the alleged violation of resolution 1701. A UNIFIL investigation team is currently at the location indicated by LAF. Our effort is to ascertain if any traces of a possible explosion or other activity can be identified on the ground. The area is a steep hilly terrain with thick vegetation.

At the same time we have asked the IDF to provide us details of any incident in the area as alleged and, if so, its precise location. Further details will be provided to the media as the investigation progresses.