New "Israeli" incursion in South Lebanon, and the number of Violations rises

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 14-04-2008
'Israeli' soldiers made a brief incursion at the weekend into Lebanon near the disputed Shebaa Farms territory, the Lebanese army said on Monday.
"A group of five 'Israeli' soldiers entered 150 meters inside the area of Al-Shaal, east of Kfar Shouba (in southeastern Lebanon) and remained in the area for 10 minutes before leaving," an army statement said.
It called the move "a blatant and repeated breach of Lebanese sovereignty."
The army has informed the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon of the incident, an army official said.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had no immediate comment.
'Israeli' jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace, but it is rare for a land or naval violation to take place.
An 'Israeli' warship entered Lebanese waters on March 18 before being intercepted by UN naval forces.
The overflights have drawn criticism from Lebanese authorities and the international community as they are in violation of UN resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hizbullah and 'Israel', fought on Lebanese grounds. The month-long war destroyed major Lebanese infrastructure and culminated in approximately 1000 Lebanese civilian deaths.
Tensions have risen along the Lebanese-'Israeli' border since a declaration of "open war" by Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah after the February assassination of top Hizbullah operative Imad Moghniyeh in Damascus.
Hizbullah blamed 'Israel' for the killing, who is too terrified to acknowledge any involvement.
'Israel' held a five-day nationwide military exercise earlier this month simulating air and missile attacks on the country. Lebanese troops were put on alert despite 'Israeli' Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert's assurances that there was "nothing hidden behind" the drills.