Israel’s military fired tear gas across the border into
Lebanon on Saturday, breaking up a small Lebanese protest against
cameras installed there, Lebanon’s National News agency reported. Israel’s
military said the protesters crossed the international border,
prompting the dispersal. The U.N. peacekeeping force, known by the
acronym UNIFIL, said it is investigating the various claims and that the
situation later calmed. UNIFIL is closely coordinating
with the Lebanese army and troops are still on the ground to ensure
there is “no violation” of the U.N. demarcated borders, said spokesman
Andrea Tenenti.

Tenenti said there are no Israeli cameras that violate the
U.N. demarcated borders. He said the UNIFIL is in touch with both
parties to ensure calm. The protest by residents of Meiss
el-Jabal, near the border with Israel, was led by a Lebanese lawmaker.
The protesters were objecting to Israel’s installation of security
cameras and a solar panel along the U.N. demarcated border which they
call “contested.” Lawmaker Qassim Hashim told reporters at the borders
that U.N. demarcated borders are a “withdrawal line,” and not Israeli
territories. Another protester said in remarks carried by al-Manar TV
that the cameras are used to spy on Lebanon.

The
Israel-Lebanon border has remained mostly quiet since 2006, when Israel
and Hezbollah fought for a month-long war that left some 1,200 Lebanese
and 160 Israelis dead, and ended in a stalemate. Israel’s
army said the dozens protesters crossed the international border,
prompting troops to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd “and prevent
further infiltrations into Israeli territory.” Al-Manar
TV, affiliated with Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah, said the t some
people suffered shortness of breath because of the tear gas.