KFAR KELA, Lebanon: A cautious calm reigned over the Lebanese-Israeli border Tuesday as both the Lebanese Army and Israeli forces intensified their patrols, and Israeli jet fighters violated Lebanon’s airspace over the village of Marjayoun and Shebaa Farms.
Israeli forces patrolled the area stretching from the Metula settlement to the occupied part of the village of Ghajar, where Israeli vehicles equipped with radars and infrared vision monitored the Lebanese side of the border and Israeli surveillance drones hovered over Marjayoun and the Shebaa Farms.
For its part, the Lebanese Army carried out joint patrols with troops of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on the road between the towns of Wazzani and Abassieh.
Armored vehicles of Spanish UNIFIL troops took positions in the areas surrounding Fatima Gate and Kfar Kila, while Indonesian troops were deployed in Adaysseh near a Lebanese Army checkpoint.
As patrols intensified on both sides of the border, several explosions were heard inside the Israeli towns facing the border villages of Houla, Mais al-Jabal and Rmeish.
The gunfire coincided with Israeli mock raids over the areas of Marjayoun and Arqoub.
Facing Maroun al-Ras, two Israeli bulldozers were spotted creating sand barriers as soldiers deployed in neighboring gardens to monitor movements on the Lebanese side.
Monitoring cameras were also installed in the southern part of Shebaa Farms, where an Israeli violation of the Blue Line was recorded.
The Lebanese Army press office said that 10 Israeli jet fighters had violated Lebanon’s airspace, carrying out circular flights over the southern regions of Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab between 9:45 and 11:50 a.m.