What happened at the Lebanese-Israeli border?

My blogging has been slow lately because the Lebanese media—which I use as a source for many of my posts— has been going from bad to worse. Writing a single post takes me a long time, which I spend translating, comparing reports and trying to corroborate information. I was still working on a post on the Hariri tribunal when the story of clashes between the Lebanese army and the IDF broke out. The reports I read in the Lebanese media were confusing, but here they are anyway.

Al-Mustaqbal quoted security sources as saying that the Israelis tried to cross the blue line into Lebanese territory "to the region where the Israelis said they found four roadside bombs." Well, how could that region be Lebanese when those bombs were discovered on the Israeli side of the border? Al-Mustaqbal wasn't too concerned about accuracy—their main concern was to report Saad Hariri's statement that the clashes prove that the Lebanese army is capable to defend the country. Right!   

According to the pro-Hizbullah rag al-Akhbar, the army asked UNIFIL to prevent the IDF from operating in a "disputed territory" until a joint committee verified the border. The Israelis refused so the Lebanese army warned it would open fire at the Israelis, which they did, al-Akhbar said, when the Israelis advanced tens of meters into Lebanese territory. The paper made no mention of the roadside bombs.

An-Nahar quoted Lebanese military sources as saying that the army fired in the direction of a bulldozer that "tried to advance towards Maroun al-Ras". The source told An-Nahar that following Israeli activity along the border, the army received orders from Michel Suleiman to respond to any Israeli attempt to infiltrate.

An-Nahar is the only paper that quoted Israeli military sources through its correspondent in Ramallah. Their correspondent said the Israelis were combing the area alongside the blue line where the roadside bombs were discovered. They reportedly sent the Lebanese army several messages assuring them of their intentions, but received objections from the Lebanse army and threats to open fire.

Most Israeli media is reporting that IDF troops were operating north of the border fence, but within Israeli territory.

Some will see this incident as a refreshing new side to the Lebanese army – but how many will get to know what really happened? If the army shot at the Israelis on Israeli territory, then I think it has to explain this new pre-emptive strategy towards Israel (and only Israel). If this was a purely defensive operation to stop a violation of Lebanese territory, then let's hear convincing details about the army's apparent new assignment to defend the Lebanese border-- the entire Lebanese border, and not just the southern front.

And how does the army explain the following (courtesy of al-Akhbar):

The Islamic resistance, which did not intervene in the clash awaiting a decision by the Lebanese army, raised the level of alertness among its ranks in the entire border area.

Comments

[fubar]

If you are still working on your tribunal post...
From Wednesday's UN noon briefing:

Asked whether recent letters by the Lebanese Prime Minister to the Secretary-General or by the Lebanese President to the Security Council had been released, the Spokeswoman said that they had not. But she noted that, contrary to some reports, the letter by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora had not mentioned Chapter Seven of the UN Charter.

As to the clash:
UNIFIL saying 5 LAF injured.
LAF saying no LAF injured.

What's up with that? Sounds like the LAF is using Hezbollah casualty/injury rules. Can we get international rules applied here? If it bleeds, it's an injury.

[R]

Usually, in my experience, the Lebanese army reports their injuries (unless I am mistaken)... On the other hand, usually, also in my experience, the Lebanese army does not defend Lebanese borders against incursions of any kind. That includes both real incursions and imaginary ones...

[Jay]

What really happened is anyone's guess. All three possibilities are plausible:

1) IDF crossed the border and LAF retaliated.
2) IDF didn't cross the border but LAF fired at it anyway.
3) UNIFIL hasn't verified the border, so both IDF and LAF thought they were operating on their own side.

Too bad for the injuries, I hope the situation doesn't escalate to the point where HA steps in to "help" LAF. Planting the roadside bombs in the first place was helpful enough already.

[fdsfdf]

The israeli media said that I.D.F shoot two tanks shells on the LAF, who shoot on the israeli bulldozers....

[fdsfdf]

The israeli media said that I.D.F shoot two tanks shells on the LAF, who shoot on the israeli bulldozers....

[Jeha]

It could simply be that Syria is heating up the border, since Hezb cannot do much in the capital. The Lebanese army is far from "pristine", and may well still be under Syria's indirect influence.

[Charlie]

Jeha,
Unfortunately the Lebanese army is definitely under the influence of Syria and their Lebanese proxies, HA and Aoun, we all found that out the hard way during the last
"democratic riots" orchestrated by the Syrian stooges. Without a new president in office, Siniora is going to have a tough time reforming the armed forces and change their loyalties.

[ghassan karam]

As UNIFIL has reported this incident is a "serious" one but is far from being an important development. What is clear is that no borders were crossed by anyone. The Blue line was NOT violated.
IMHO there might be some truth to the HA story that these couple of explosive devices camouflged as rocks have been planted in the security corridor some time ago. If these were planted recently then that does not speak well of the Israeli ability to watch the border does it? When the IDF discovered these explosives they dispatched a group to go investigate and detonate. As the Israeli approached the Blue line the Lebanese army fired a few shots in the air and the Israelis brought in their tank and heavy equipment. End of story. (In the language of statisticians most of the reports in the Lebanese press are to be filed under "noise" .)

[ghassan karam]

I neglected to mention in the previous post that if one is interested in looking at a purported picture of the explosive devices then you can visit ynetnews.com.They show a picture of the device among the rocks and then another one of the same exploded device.

[Enough BS]

I think it was staged.

[Enough BS]

I think it was staged.

[Amir in Tel Aviv]

Channel 2 says that a track carrying weapons for HZB got caught in Lebanon, by the Lebanese army.
Confirmation any one??

..And bad news from Mecca. One more step in Islamisation of the regional conflict.
.

[fubar]

(Naharnet) Hizbullah said Thursday a truck seized by Lebanese authorities in east Beirut was carrying munitions destined for its fighters and asked for the weaponry to be returned.

"Lebanese customs at midday Thursday confiscated a truck carrying munitions for the resistance," a statement said, adding that the truck was heading from the Bekaa Valley to southern Lebanon.

"The Lebanese authorities should return the truck and the munitions to the resistance," it said.

Hizbullah justified its demand for the truck to be returned by what it called a "ministerial declaration" by Premier Fouad Saniora recognizing the right to resist Israeli occupation in Lebanon.

[Roger]

Do not believe what you read in the Lebanese press- all lies propagted by elments in the Lebnese army subservient to Syria:

February 7th 2007

IDF engineering activity along the border with Lebanon

IDF engineering forces are currently operating in the area where four
explosive devices planted by Hezbollah were uncovered on Monday, February
5th 2007. It is important to emphasize that the activity is taking place
within Israeli territory, south of the international border.

The aim of the operation is to confirm that no additional explosive devices
are located in the area and to make it difficult for the Hezbollah terror
organization to conceal explosive devices in the area in the future.

Furthermore the operation emphasizes the Israeli sovereignty along the
international border and increases the effectiveness of IDF operations along
the border.

Lebanese forces exchanged fire on Israel's northern border near
Avivim late Wednesday night. Israeli soldiers have been combed an area for
Hizbullah explosives.

The incident began after Lebanese forces fired warning shots and were warned
by the IDF than any further gunfire would be responded to. After the
shooting continued an IDF tank fired two shells in the direction of the
gunfire. No injuries have been reported.

The IDF will continue to operate in order to maintain Israel's sovereignty
and to implement UN resolution 1701.

Cette nuit l'entrée de trois tracteurs blindés dans l'enclave israélienne de 60 sur 100 mètres au nord de la barrière de sécurité, en face du village d'Avivim, c'est terminée par des échanges de tirs (voir la video ici) entre les armées régulières des deux pays, Israël et Liban.
Deux jours après la mise en place par le Hezbollah de 4 charges explosives de grande intensité, sous les yeux de la FINUL et de l'armée libanaise, le Commandement de la Région Nord a décidé d'intervenir pour, d'une part, nettoyer le terrain et, d'autre part, assurer le maintient de la souveraineté israélienne dans ses frontières, telles qu'elles ont été définies par l'ONU – et la France en particulier - après le retrait du Sud du Liban en 2000.
La FINUL a essayée hier d'empêcher Israël d'agir sur son terrain. Mais c'est l'armée libanaise qui a tiré des salves de mitrailleuse sur Tzahal et s'est préparée à faire feu de roquettes anti-char. Les tanks de Tzahal ont réagi immédiatement.
Ainsi Israël a décidé d'une politique claire sur sa frontière nord: contrairement à l'évolution de la situation après le retrait de 2000, où les provocations du Hezbollah étaient tolérées, permettant la dégradation de la situation – rappelons que le Hezb a kidnappé les soldats de Tzahal cet été à partir d'une enclave israélienne au nord de la barrière de sécurité – Tzahal et le gouvernement ont décidé pour la fermeté.

Assad gave Hizbullah antitank missiles

Syria continues to transfer advanced antitank missiles to Lebanese Shiite group, in defiance of UN resolution, Jerusalem officials say. 'Hizbullah is again growing in strength before our eyes, and we're doing nothing about it," official claims
Published: 02.07.07, 08:33
Syria has recently transferred large quantities of advanced antitank missiles to Hizbulla in Lebanon, going against a UN resolution on the subject, senior officials in Jerusalem recently learned.

[Abi Lama]

Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Russian Weapons Diverted By Syria to Hizballah

Russian Weapons Diverted By Syria to Hizballah
EUP20070207085006 Berlin Die Welt in German 06 Feb 07
[Report by Jacques Schuster: "Secret Service: Syria
Supplies Weapons to Hizballah"]
[With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ]

A few days ago, the radical organization reportedly obtained numerous
antitank weapons. The source of the material is Russia, which apparently had
no idea of the transfer of the weapons to Hizballah. However, the problem
per se is not new.

On 31 January of this year, a Russian transport plane landed at the Damascus
airport carrying 600 containers of Russian antitank weapons. Representatives
of the Shiite extremist organization Hizballah and of the Iranian
Revolutionary Guards were waiting on the runway. While a Syrian officer
watched, they had about 100 containers loaded onto trucks. The shipment went
to the Hizballah fighters in Lebanon.

This information comes from Western secret service sources, who passed it on
to WELT.de. The documents indicate that the Russian suppliers knew nothing
about their weapons being handed on to Hizballah. While the arms deal as
such is based on Russian-Syrian treaties, the delivery to Hizballah violates
UN Resolution 1701, adopted on 11 August of last year shortly after the war
in Lebanon. It forbids supplying the Lebanese militias with weapons.

For some time now the Russian Government has been trying to stop its weapons
being transferred to Hizballah. Syria had already frequently diverted some
of the Russian arms deliveries to its allies in Lebanon. Officially,
Damascus has always said the weapons were stolen from Syrian military camps
in Lebanon.

As a result of these treaty violations, as of this March the Russians will
have all arms trade with Syria go through its state arms export company
Rosoboronexport. The goal is to improve the control mechanisms over the
deliveries. Middle East experts are doubtful whether the Syrians will be
impressed with this. Whatever the case, according to secret service sources
the Syrians this week broke up a smuggling ring as a demonstration of their
determination. The only flaw was that the weapons were supposed to go to the
anti-Syrian Christian militias.

[Description of Source: Berlin Die Welt in German --
major right-of-center daily]

http://www.welt.de/data/2007/02/07/1202700.html

[Roman Kalik]

Dunno if the explosive charges were old or not, but once they were discovered a clear sweep of the border area was a must.
If the LAF, after being informed of this, still chose to open fire on the IDF (and no, not just on the dozers but on the men around them, who were all on Israel's side of the border), then the men stationed at the border are trigger-happy morons.
Pardon me, but by opening fire without any provocation those of the LAF who were injured sealed their own fate.

[fubar]

(JPost) Lebanon reneged Friday on its plan to file a complaint against Israel to the United Nations Security Council over Wednesday's flare-up on the northern border, after UNIFIL accepted Israel's version of events.

IDF tanks shelled a Lebanese army position after the Israeli troops came under fire during an operation to clear mines on the Israeli side of the border two days after five explosive devices were discovered in the area.

Lebanon's Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat told Al Jazeera that "for the moment there is no need to file a complaint. The main message we conveyed to Israel was that we will not sit down and shake hands over violations of our sovereignty."

UNIFIL accepted Israel's version of the episode after inspecting the area and came to the conclusion that an Israeli bulldozer did not cross the Blue Line, the border drawn by the United Nations after Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000.

Slovakia's UN Ambassador Peter Burian, the current council president, said Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno told members at a closed briefing Thursday that "there was no violation of the Blue Line."

********

Translation: Lebanon says, “our bad.”

Well, duh. Dozer track marks don’t lie. But way to stand tall. Play on...

[Outsider]

Abu Kais, just for your information (in case you didn't know), on many places there are two border fences, one on the Lebanese side and one on the Israeli side. The fences can be as far as 100 m apart. The actual border line lies somewhere in between these two fences. During regular maintenance work on the Israeli border fence last Monday the IDF stumbled upon some roadside bombs that were hidden in between the two fences. As a result the IDF decided to systematically clear the border area of any bombs that might still be hidden near the fence. If you remember what happened on July 12, 2006, you can imagine why the IDF tries to keep the border clean of roadside bombs. For that purpose the IDF entered the area in between the two fences, while still staying on the Israeli side of the border line. The trouble is that the border markings are probably not always clearly visible from a distance, due to shrubs and weeds growing in between the two fences. Perhaps that's why the Lebanese army, looking on from the other side of the Lebanese fence, thought that the IDF had ventured a few meters within sovereign Lebanese territory, and they considered it a good idea to start firing at the IDF. It's really much ado about nothing. Some people are apparently happy to start another war with Israel any time they see an opportunity.
Do you know what.... old people in Metulla, Israel, can still remember the time when there was no border fence at all, only stone markings. They would buy bread and groceries in Lebanese villages and pick flowers and visit friends. They are longing back to that time. I wonder whether there any people left inside Lebanon who also share that dream.