«Israel» Releases Abducted Lebanese Shepherd

Local Editor

In another act of Lebanese sovereignty violation, the "Israeli" entity abducted a Lebanese shepherd for bringing his flock close to the Blue Line.

After detaining him overnight, the "Israeli" army released the shepherd early Saturday.

Abdullah Rahmeh went missing after he was grazing a herd of cattle in forested area Friday night in his south Lebanon hometown of Aita al-Shaab, close to the Palestinian border.

Neighbors and townsmen became concerned after Rahmeh's flock returned in the evening without him; they coordinated search operations with the army which had contacted the UNIFIL troops for assistance.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said "Israeli" authorities informed them at 8 p.m. that Rahmeh was arrested after crossing the Blue Line, which is a UN border demarcation separating Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.

In an issued statement by the UNIFIL, it indicated that "around eight o'clock this evening, the UNIFIL was notified by the ‘Israeli' army that it has captured a shepherd who had crossed over the Blue Line in the vicinity of Aita al-Shaab in the South," adding that the UNIFIL immediately informed the Lebanese army, NNA correspondent in Tyre reported.

The statement also indicated that "the head of the UNIFIL mission and its General Commander, Major General Michael Perry, as well as the UNIFIL correlation team are in touch with the parties concerned in this regard, focusing their efforts on securing the shepherd's release."

Rahmeh was handed over to UNIFIL early Saturday, who then handed him over to Lebanese Army Intelligence.

On several occasions, "Israeli" soldiers had crossed the UN-demarcated border and seized shepherds or livestock from Lebanese territory.

They had also repeatedly seized shepherds and animals that accidentally strayed across the border into "Israeli"-annexed Palestinian territory.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team