New York, Aug 5 (DPA) The UN Security Council plans to discuss this week’s shooting incident at the Israeli-Lebanese border after a UN investigation has been done, the council president said Thursday.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the Israeli government has requested the discussion so it can present its side of the story to the 15-nation council. Churkin said the council would meet after the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon has completed its own investigation, expected in the coming days.
Israeli and Lebanese forces fired at each other Tuesday after Lebanon claimed Israel had violated the so-called UN blue line that serves as an artificial border between the two countries. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) however said the blue line was not violated by Israel.
The exchange of fire killed two Lebanese troops, one high-ranking Israeli officer and a journalist. It was the most serious clash since the brief 2006 summer war between Israel and Hezbollah militia forces.
