lennart
26-02-04, 14:57
Shepherd killed by Israeli fire near border; body pulled to Israeli side
Third such fatality in three months
By Samer Wehbi
Daily Star correspondent
Israeli troops opened fire on Tuesday at two Lebanese shepherds near the border, killing one of them. The attack comes almost three months after Israelis killed two men who were on a hunting trip near Ghajar.
Ali Mohammed Mustafa, 23, and his brother Jaafar, 20, were tending their cattle south of their village of Wazzani at a 20-meter distance from the Israeli electronic fence when a patrol fired shots at them, killing Ali. His brother fled the area.
More than five Israeli HUMMER’s immediately raced to the scene. Israeli soldiers then pointed their guns toward Lebanese territory. Later, the soldiers pulled Mustafa’s body to the Israeli side after crossing the fence through a small hole.
The head of Lebanese Army Intelligence in Nabatieh Lieutenant Colonel Ali Noureddine, Wazzani Mayor Hussein Ahmad and the victim’s relatives all arrived on the scene. However, Israeli soldiers prevented anyone from approaching the body and threatened, through loudspeakers, to shoot anyone who tried, claiming it was a military area.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL officers arrived at the scene from the Israeli side in a helicopter that transported them from nearby Naqoura.
Mayor Ahmad said the Israelis pulled Mustafa’s body one hour after the incident occurred, adding that the shepherd came to the area daily. He went on to criticize UNIFIL’s Indian battalion that was informed of the incident but failed to approach the body until the Israelis pulled it to their side.
In Israel, military sources said soldiers saw that a man was hit by their fire but could not immediately confirm his death.
The military sources added that soldiers opened fire on a man carrying two large backpacks who had infiltrated into Israel and who then fled when he saw the soldiers. According to these same sources, the man ignored their calls to stop.
Israeli media reported that the man was apparently smuggling drugs. _ With agencies
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/25_02_04/art16.asp
Third such fatality in three months
By Samer Wehbi
Daily Star correspondent
Israeli troops opened fire on Tuesday at two Lebanese shepherds near the border, killing one of them. The attack comes almost three months after Israelis killed two men who were on a hunting trip near Ghajar.
Ali Mohammed Mustafa, 23, and his brother Jaafar, 20, were tending their cattle south of their village of Wazzani at a 20-meter distance from the Israeli electronic fence when a patrol fired shots at them, killing Ali. His brother fled the area.
More than five Israeli HUMMER’s immediately raced to the scene. Israeli soldiers then pointed their guns toward Lebanese territory. Later, the soldiers pulled Mustafa’s body to the Israeli side after crossing the fence through a small hole.
The head of Lebanese Army Intelligence in Nabatieh Lieutenant Colonel Ali Noureddine, Wazzani Mayor Hussein Ahmad and the victim’s relatives all arrived on the scene. However, Israeli soldiers prevented anyone from approaching the body and threatened, through loudspeakers, to shoot anyone who tried, claiming it was a military area.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL officers arrived at the scene from the Israeli side in a helicopter that transported them from nearby Naqoura.
Mayor Ahmad said the Israelis pulled Mustafa’s body one hour after the incident occurred, adding that the shepherd came to the area daily. He went on to criticize UNIFIL’s Indian battalion that was informed of the incident but failed to approach the body until the Israelis pulled it to their side.
In Israel, military sources said soldiers saw that a man was hit by their fire but could not immediately confirm his death.
The military sources added that soldiers opened fire on a man carrying two large backpacks who had infiltrated into Israel and who then fled when he saw the soldiers. According to these same sources, the man ignored their calls to stop.
Israeli media reported that the man was apparently smuggling drugs. _ With agencies
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/25_02_04/art16.asp