Hanikra border clash

Last updated

2013 Israel–Lebanon border clash
BlueLine.jpg
Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon
DateDecember 15–16, 2013
Location
Result

Fighting subsided

  • Rogue Lebanese marksmen detained
Belligerents
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Units involved
Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg Israeli Defence Force Flag of the Lebanese Armed Forces (Front).svg Lebanese Armed Forces
Casualties and losses
Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg 1 soldier killed
Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg 1 jeep damaged [1]
Flag of the Lebanese Armed Forces (Front).svg 1 soldier wounded

The Hanikra border clash was the shooting death of an Israeli soldier and subsequent counter-attack that ensued, wounding a Lebanese soldier. The incident took place in the Rosh HaNikra (HaKira) locality kibbutz on the Lebanese-Israeli border. [1] According to Lebanese authorities the soldier who shot and killed the IDF serviceman acted independently without orders to shoot. [2] The shootout marked the first time an Israeli soldier died confronting Lebanese soldiers since the 2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash.

Contents

Incident

On 15 December 2013, at 8:30 pm, Israeli soldier Sergeant Shlomi Cohen, 31, was shot dead by rogue Lebanese army soldier Hassan Ibrahim, 27, a ten-year veteran of the Lebanese military. Ibrahim deserted his army post and shot dead the IDF soldier at close range with a light firearm. The bullets struck him and the military jeep he was driving in 6 to 7 times, between the Rosh HaNikra (known in Lebanon as Naqoura) border crossing and the IDF post he was coming from. The shooting occurred along the fenced Blue Line, 50 meters from the Lebanese border. [1] [3] [4] [5] Israeli military instructions state that no unarmored military vehicle can pass within 100 meters distance of the Lebanese border because of the high risk of being targeted. [6]

Israeli military response

A quick response was initiated by the Israeli Northern Command in the area. On 16 December, at 1 a.m, two Lebanese soldiers were fired upon based on "suspicious activities" near the scene of the border shooting in a forested area, wounding one soldier. [1] [7] [8] Following the incident, the Lebanese Army put its forces on high alert in the area. The Lebanese military reported Israeli violation of its airspace. [7]

"At 10:15 pm (2015 GMT) yesterday, a drone belonging to the Israeli enemy violated Lebanese airspace over Naqoura, and performed a fly-over of the southern area, then left at 12:40 am."

Aftermath

The Israeli defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon appealed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which in turn stressed the need for "self-restraint" on both sides.[ citation needed ]

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, IDF spokesman: "The IDF has protested this outrageous breach of Israel’s sovereignty with UNIFIL and has heightened its state of preparedness along the border. We will not tolerate aggression against the State of Israel, and maintain the right to exercise self defense against perpetrators of attacks against Israel and its civilians."[ citation needed ]

Lebanese soldier Hassan Ibrahim hid in a wooded area and turned himself in to Lebanese authorities the next day, who admitted the soldier of disobeying orders to engage. According to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, the soldier will be prosecuted by the Defense Ministry for his actions. [2] [5]

Related Research Articles

This timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict lists events from 1948 to the present. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict emerged from intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine between Palestinian Jews and Arabs, often described as the background to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The conflict in its modern phase evolved since the declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948 and consequent intervention of Arab armies on behalf of the Palestinian Arabs.

The International Solidarity Movement is a Palestinian-led movement focused on assisting the Palestinian cause in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. ISM is dedicated to the use of nonviolent protests and methods only. The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of nonviolent protests against the Israeli military in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The ISM participates in the Free Gaza Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon</span> 1978 UN-NATO peacekeeping mission following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a United Nations peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, and several further resolutions in 2006 to confirm Hezbollah demilitarisation, support Lebanese army operations against insurgents and weapon smuggling, and confirming Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, in order to ensure that the government of Lebanon would restore its effective authority in the area. The 1978 South Lebanon conflict came in the context of Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Line (withdrawal line)</span> Israel–Lebanon border demarcated by the United Nations in 2000

The Blue Line is a demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights. It was published by the United Nations on 7 June 2000 for the purposes of determining whether Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon. It has been described as "temporary" and "not a border, but a “line of withdrawal”. It is the subject of an ongoing border dispute between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosh HaNikra (kibbutz)</span> Place in Northern, Israel

Rosh HaNikra is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the Mediterranean coast near the Rosh HaNikra grottoes and the border with Lebanon, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 1,422.

This is a timeline of events related to the 2006 Lebanon War.

Military operations of the 2006 Lebanon War refer to armed engagements initiated by Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah during the 2006 conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli–Lebanese conflict</span> Conflict involving Israel and Lebanon-based paramilitary groups

The Israeli–Lebanese conflict, or the South Lebanon conflict, is a long-running conflict involving Israel, Lebanon-based paramilitary groups, and sometimes Syria. The conflict peaked during the Lebanese Civil War. In response to Palestinian attacks from Lebanon, Israel invaded the country in 1978 and again in 1982. After this it occupied southern Lebanon until 2000, while fighting a guerrilla conflict against Shia paramilitaries. After Israel's withdrawal, Hezbollah attacks sparked the 2006 Lebanon War. A new period of conflict began in 2023, leading to the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Hezbollah cross-border raid</span> Attack in the 2006 Lebanon War

The 2006 Hezbollah cross-border raid was a cross-border attack carried out by Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants on an Israeli military patrol on 12 July 2006 on Israeli territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict</span> Low-level conflict between Hezbollah and Israel

The 2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict was a low-level border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah for control of Shebaa Farms, a disputed territory located on the Golan Heights–Lebanon border. Fighting between the two sides primarily consisted of Hezbollah rocket and mortar attacks on Israel and Israeli artillery barrages and airstrikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Clashes began a few months after the 2000 Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, which Hezbollah viewed as incomplete due to the presence of the Israel Defense Forces in Shebaa Farms. The conflict culminated in the 2006 Lebanon War; Israel retains control over the territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli casualties of war</span> Overview of Israeli casualties during armed conflict

Israeli casualties of war, in addition to those of Israel's nine major wars, include 9,745 soldiers and security forces personnel killed in "miscellaneous engagements and terrorist attacks", which includes security forces members killed during military operations, by fighting crime, natural disasters, diseases, traffic or labor accidents and disabled veterans whose disabilities contributed to their deaths. Between 1948 and 1997, 20,093 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat, 75,000 Israelis were wounded, and nearly 100,000 Israelis were considered disabled army veterans. On the other hand, in 2010 Yom Hazikaron, Israel honored the memory of 22,684 Israeli soldiers and people of the Yishuv killed since 1860 in the line of duty for the independence, preservation and protection of the nation, and 3,971 civilian terror victims. The memorial roll, in addition to IDF members deceased, also include fallen members of the Shin Bet security service, the Mossad intelligence service, the Israel Police, the Border Police, the Israel Prisons Service, other Israeli security forces, the pre-state Jewish underground, and the Jewish Brigade and the Jewish Legion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosh HaNikra Crossing</span> Lebanon-Israel Border

The Rosh HaNikra Crossing also known as Ras Al Naqoura Crossing is an international border crossing between Naqoura, Lebanon and Rosh HaNikra, Israel. The terminal is operated solely by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Israel Defense Forces. The passage of regular tourists/visitors is forbidden.

Events in the year 2010 in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war</span> Incidents at the Israel–Syria ceasefire line since 2011

Several incidents have taken place on the Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line during the Syrian Civil War, straining the relations between the countries. The incidents are considered a spillover of the Quneitra Governorate clashes since 2012 and later incidents between Syrian Army and the rebels, ongoing on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan and the Golan Neutral Zone and the Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War. Through the incidents, which began in late 2012, as of mid-2014, one Israeli civilian was killed and at least 4 soldiers wounded; on the Syrian-controlled side, it is estimated that at least ten soldiers were killed, as well as two unidentified militants, who were identified near Ein Zivan on Golan Heights.

List of violent events related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict occurring in the second half of 2015.

This is a Timeline of events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict during 2016.

Events in the year 2022 in Israel.

The year 2023 in Israel was defined first by wide-scale protests against a proposed judicial reform, and then by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which led to a war and to Israel invading the Gaza Strip.

This timeline of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict covers the period from 1 April 2024, when Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus, to 26 July 2024, one day before the Majdal Shams attack.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "BBC News - Troops shot on Israel-Lebanon border". BBC News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Lebanese Shooter Who Killed IDF Soldier Detained". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. "IDF soldier Shlomi Cohen killed in Lebanon border shooting". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. "Lebanese soldier's relatives say killer is 'worthy of recognition'". ynet. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  5. 1 2 "Ya'alon: Lebanese soldier who shot Shlomi Cohen nabbed". ynet. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  6. Harel, Amos; Cohen, Gili (2013-12-17). "After Clash on Lebanon Border, Israel Faces Rogue Soldier Dilemma". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  7. 1 2 "Israel fires into Lebanon in retaliation". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  8. "Israel shoots 2 Lebanese troops after soldier killed". www.cbsnews.com. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-13.

[1] [2] [3]

  1. "BBC News - Troops shot on Israel-Lebanon border". BBC News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  2. "Troops shot on Israel-Lebanon border". BBC News. 16 December 2013.
  3. "Lebanese Shooter Who Killed IDF Soldier Detained".