UN peacekeeping force says Israel informed it of planned Lebanon incursions

DUBAI: The UN peacekeeping force said on Tuesday the Israeli army had notified it of its intention to undertake limited ground incursions into Lebanon.

UNIFIL said in a statement that despite the developments in Lebanon, peacekeepers remained in position. It urged all actors to step back from escalatory acts.

"Any crossing into Lebanon is in violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a violation of (U.N. Security Council) resolution 1701," UNIFIL said.

UNSC 1701 ended the month-long 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and called for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and that the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers be the only armed force south of the Litani River.