WAZZANI, Lebanon: Three Israeli bulldozers, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, crossed the technical fence with Lebanon Monday and began digging a road that runs parallel to the Wazzani stream.

A senior officer with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told The Daily Star that Israel had notified the peacekeepers of the move in advance.

UNIFIL, in turn, had informed the Lebanese Army of the Israeli measure, added the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He said Israel plans to dig two roads – each about 400-500 meters-long, that run parallel to the Wazzani stream.

“Security considerations were the primary explanation by the Israeli side,” the officer said.

As the bulldozers were doing their job, U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers were holding maps to make sure the Israeli unit did not cross the Blue Line.

The Blue Line marks Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon in May 2000 after 22 years of occupation.

In November 2012, Israeli bulldozers crossed the technical fence near the occupied village of Ghajar and dug broad trenches to hide tanks on the Lebanese side of the fence and a site overlooking the Wazzani stream.