Provocation in north: Lebanese cross border waving Hezbollah flags
Group of 15 Lebanese civilians, including children, cross border carrying Lebanon, Hezbollah flags, turns back shortly after. IDF soldiers refrain from responding, but army says incident 'severe violation of UN Resolution 1701'
Fifteen Lebanese citizens, including several children, crossed the border from Lebanon into Israel Friday evening, the DF reported. The people were carrying Hezbollah and Lebanon flags.
The group crossed the border at a spot where no fence exists, and walked to the Israeli side. IDF soldiers spotted them, but seing they were unarmed, and had children with them, decided not to respond.
Several minutes after crossing the border, the group turned back and returned to Lebanese territory.
Despite the decision not to take any action, Northern Command officials stressed that the incident constituted a severe violation of UN Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War.
"Any person who decides to cross the border must take into consideration the possibility of being hurt," the army said.
Earlier Friday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Israel is still holding a Lebanese prisoner and the remains of others despite a prison exchange a year ago in which all were to be returned.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah believes the family of Lebanese soldier Yehia Skaff, who say their son is still being held in an Israeli prison. He said Friday that Israel is also holding the "remains of martyrs."
There was no immediate comment from Israel, but the government has said in the past that they believe Skaff was killed during the Palestinian terror attack he carried out in 1978 that killed 35 Israelis.
Sharon Roffe-Ofir and AP contributed to the report
