"The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) says the Israeli military has constructed walls in Lebanese territory that cross a UN-backed, unofficial border between the two countries. The statement on Friday comes as Israel has carried out near-daily attacks across Lebanon including in the south of the country, in particular despite a ceasefire signed a year ago with Lebanese group Hezbollah."
"In UNIFIL's statement, the force said Israel had built a concrete T-wall southwest of Yaroun, a town in Lebanon's southern Nabatieh district. The wall extends across the so-called Blue Line and has made more than 4,000 square metres [43,055sq feet] of Lebanese territory inaccessible to the Lebanese people, it added. Established in 2000, the Blue Line is a 120km (75-mile) unofficial border drawn up by the UN between Lebanon and Israel."
"In response to UNIFIL's statement on Friday, the Israeli military told the AFP news agency that the wall is part of a broader plan whose construction began in 2022. Since the start of the war, and as part of lessons learnt from it, the [Israeli military] has been advancing a series of measures, including reinforcing the physical barrier along the northern border, it said. It should be emphasised that the wall does not cross the Blue Line, the military added."
UNIFIL reported that Israeli forces constructed concrete T-walls near Yaroun in southern Nabatieh that extend across the UN-drawn Blue Line. One section southwest of Yaroun made more than 4,000 square metres of Lebanese territory inaccessible to local people, and another section southeast also extends beyond the Blue Line. The Blue Line is an unofficial 120km border established in 2000 to confirm Israeli withdrawal as mandated by UN Security Council resolutions. UNIFIL requested the Israeli army move the walls after a geospatial survey. The Israeli military said the barrier is part of a broader 2022 plan and denied crossing the Blue Line.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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