Israeli bulldozers and drills were seen churning up earth near the border wall in what Tel Aviv is calling ‘Operation Northern Shield’
UN peacekeepers said they increased patrols on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Tuesday after Israel announced an operation against what it said were Hezbollah infiltration tunnels.
The Israeli army said it launched an operation dubbed “Northern Shield” to destroy “attack tunnels” it accused the Lebanese militia of digging under the border.
Hezbollah had not reacted and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said it had increased patrols along the border, as Israeli bulldozers went to work.
“The overall situation in UNIFIL’s area of operation remains calm,” said Joumana Sayegh, a spokeswoman for the UN mission which monitors the border region. “UNIFIL is working with all interlocutors in order to maintain the overall stability,”
Referring to the UN-established ceasefire line, Sayegh said: “UNIFIL peacekeepers have further increased their patrolling along the Blue Line, together with the Lebanese Armed Forces.
