UN deeply concerned over south Lebanon situation

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag expressed Wednesday deep concern over the serious deterioration of the security situation in South Lebanon following the attack on the Israeli Defence Forces in the area of the Shebaa Farms.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militant party, claimed Wednesday responsibility for an attack that targeted an Israeli army patrol in the occupied Shebaa Farms leading to the death of two Israeli soldiers.

The attack prompted Israel to launch combined aerial and ground strikes at Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

At least 50 artillery shells were fired into southern Lebanon during the assault, Israeli media said. The strikes killed a Spanish soldier of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).

Kaag called on "all parties to refrain from any actions that could destabilise the situation further", urging all parties "to continue to abide by their obligations under Security Council Resolution 1701".