Tripartite meeting in Naqoura discusses cross-border shooting

Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major-General Paolo Serra chaired Monday a tripartite meeting with senior officers from the Lebanese and Israeli forces at a UN Position at Ras Al Naqoura crossing between Lebanon and Israel. The emergency meeting discussed ways to strengthen the security arrangements along the Blue Line one day after an Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Lebanese soldier. It also probed the circumstances shrouding the incident, according to a UNIFIL statement. Representatives of Lebanon and Israel reaffirmed commitment to prevent recurrence of any such hostilities in the future and help the UNIFIL shoulder its mandate under the UN Security Council resolution 1701. The meeting was attended by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly. Earlier today Plumbly met with Lebanon's Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, deplored the shooting in the vicinity of the Blue Line in Naqoura and called on both sides to maintain calm and restraint.