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EU concerned over tension at Lebanon-Israel border

Arab-Israel Relations Materials 4 August 2010 16:45 (UTC +04:00)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has expressed “serious concern” over the recent exchange of fire across the Israeli-Lebanese border, urging the parties involved “to exercise the utmost restraint”.
EU concerned over tension at Lebanon-Israel border

Azerbaijan, Baku, August 4 / Trend U. Sadikhova /

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has expressed "serious concern" over the recent exchange of fire across the Israeli-Lebanese border, urging the parties involved "to exercise the utmost restraint".

In a statement on behalf of the European Union, she said that immediate steps should be taken on both sides of the border in order to prevent a further escalation of tension or any form of further violence.

Three Lebanese servicemen and a local journalist were killed in a shootout between the Lebanese and Israeli soldiers on the border between the two countries. An officer of Israeli Defense Forces was killed.

It was the biggest clash between the Israeli and Lebanese military during the last four years after the Second Lebanon War in July 2006 between Israel and Lebanese political party Hezbollah.

Lebanon and Israel put responsibility on each other for this incident.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting due to increasing violence at the border, where UNIFIL peacekeeping troops are deployed.

The EU stresses the need for both Israel and Lebanon to ensure continuous and unimpeded implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701, and it extends its support to the role of UNIFIL in this."

She added the EU supported a full and immediate enquiry into the events.

According to the version voiced by the Lebanese side, skirmish began when the Israeli military went to Lebanon during the engineering work, forcing the Lebanese troops to make a few warning shots.

However, Israeli military argue that on Tuesday they were attacked by Lebanon, which they were on their side and did not enter the borders of a neighboring state.

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