UNIFIL confirms third illegal Hezbollah cross-border tunnel into Israel territory

"The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed on Thursday that a third Hezbollah tunnel crossed the Blue Line border into Israeli territory, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that established a ceasefire agreement and buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The announcement from UNIFIL comes following an investigation conducted in coordination with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) last week.

Back at the end of 2018 leading into 2019, Israel had announced Operation Northern Shield, which revealed six border tunnels dug by Hezbollah, and destroyed their entry into Israeli territory.

UNIFIL said on Thursday that it reached its conclusions after performing a 'technical inspection of the last tunnel discovered by the IDF in northern Israel close to the Blue Line and across from the Lebanese village of Ramyah.'

While UNIFIL had already recognized the existence of five of the six tunnels disclosed by Israel, the UN force has now confirmed that at least three of those cross the Blue Line in violation of the UN resolution adopted to end the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel..."