IDF soldier killed in fire exchange on Lebanese border

Tonight (Sunday) at around 20:30, fire opened on an Israeli enclave near the border with Lebanon, in which last August four soldiers were injured by an explosion during a military operation.

The shooting took place at a car driving on the road near the Lebanese border, a few hundred feet east of an IDF post at Rosh Hanikra. Six or seven shots were fired towards the car from light weapons, probably from a relatively close range. Observations of IDF spotted a clustering of some armed men from the Lebanese side of the border. It is estimated that these are Lebanese army soldiers and not operatives of Hezbollah.

The IDF did not respond immediately to the fire.

An investigation conducted after the incident indicates that there was no penetration to Iraeli territory. The Northern Command opened an investigation of the circumstances of the incident. At the Northern Command and General Staff consultations were held this evening regarding the nature of the appropriate response to the incident.

Lebanese reports claim that a force of the Lebanese army is the one which opened fire on Israeli forces which crossed the border near the Rosh Hanikra.

Many forces are scanning along the border and in nearby communities to eliminate fear of terrorist infiltration, and aircraft of the Air Force were launched to assist the scanning. In addition barricades were set up in the area.

The Lebanese army announced that a Lebanese soldier was missing and their estimation he is in the hands of Israel. The Lebanese army declared a state of alert in Rosh Hanikra.

The IDF Spokesman said that in the evening a shotting event occurred in Rosh Hanikra. The attack was apparently by a Lebanese army soldier. A serious message about the incident was reported to the UN.

"The IDF continues to investigate the incident, alert for any action that is required and will not tolerate any harm to Israeli citizens," the statement said, adding that "the IDF reserves the right to respond when and where it sees fit."

Official spokesman of the UNIFIL, Andrea Tanti, said that "we found out about a serious incident on the border in Rosh Hanikra. UNIFIL commander, Paulo Sira, is negotiating with both sides urging them to show restraint. According to our information the incident occurred on the Israeli side. The parties are cooperating with UNIFIL."

Dr. Massad Barhoum, CEO of Medical Center Western Galilee - Nahariya, said that "a little while ago a man of the security forces was brought into the trauma room in a critical condition, we continued resuscitation for a long while, but were forced to confirm his death. The casualty suffered from injury in the upper body, mainly in the neck and chest."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!