A view shows the border area between Lebanon and Israel as pictured from Bastra farms, in southern Lebanon, August 8, 2023.
REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Lebanon's army said it fired tear gas at Israeli forces over the border on Saturday in response to smoke bombs fired at its troops, though Israel said Lebanon started the confrontation.
"Elements of the Israeli enemy violated the withdrawal line and fired smoke bombs at a Lebanese army patrol that was accompanying a bulldozer removing an earthen berm erected by the Israeli enemy north of the withdrawal line, the blue line, in the Bastra area," the Lebanese army said in a statement.
"The Lebanese patrol responded to the attack by firing tear bombs ... forcing them to withdraw to the occupied Palestinian territories," Lebanon's army added.
The Israeli military said it was Lebanon that started the violence.
Persons:
Aziz Taher, Mount Dov, Andrea Tenenti, Maya Gebeily, Emily Rose, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Peter Graff, Andrew Heavens
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, United, UNIFIL, UN, Thomson
Locations:
Lebanon, Israel, Rights CAIRO, Lebanese, United Nations, Mount, Jerusalem