An IDF unit on Monday employed a bulldozer and several soldiers in introducing some changes near the Shebaa Farms, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.
Shebaa Farms, or Har Dov, is a small strip of disputed land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian-Israeli border, about 7 miles long and 2 miles wide. From the early 1950s until Israel’s liberation of the Golan Heights in 1967, Syria was the de facto owner of this area. In 1981, with the official annexation of the Golan Heights, Shebaa Farms were also annexed by Israel. When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in May 2000, Hezbollah argued the withdrawal was not complete, because Shebaa belonged to Lebanon, not Syria, and so Israel had to vacate – despite an official UN ruling that found the Lebanese claim to be inconclusive.
The Lebanese News agency said the IDF installed an iron gate on the road between the Lebanese side and Har Dov.
Tensions have been high along the Lebanese-Israeli border recently, after Israel was accused of planting solar powered spying cameras and transmission units beyond the electric border fence. On Saturday, Lebanese residents of nearby Mays al-Jabal approached the border and threatened to cross it in protest. IDF troops fired tear gas at the approaching mob which was consequently dispersed.