UN: Devices planted by Israel explode in Lebanon

BEIRUT — United Nations peacekeepers protested Israel’s violation of Lebanese airspace over the weekend during an investigation into two explosions near the countries’ shared border.

The explosions were caused by the detonation of two underground sensors planted by the Israelis during their 2006 war against Hezbollah guerrillas, said Col. Diego Fulco, a spokesman for the peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL.

The Lebanese army said the devices were detonated from inside Israel and identified them as sensors used by the Israelis for spying.

Fulco said UNIFIL is investigating how the explosions, which occurred late Saturday and early Sunday, were triggered. He said that during the UNIFIL investigation at the site of the explosions in the villages of Hula and Mais al-Jabal, about 1 mile (2 kilometers) from the border, Israeli drones were hovering over the area “for a prolonged period of time in violation of Lebanese airspace.“

Fulco said “UNIFIL command protested to the IDF and called on them to immediately cease the air violation,“ according to a statement released late Sunday.

Hezbollah said in a statement that the group discovered the alleged spying devices.

The Israeli military has not publicly commented on the devices or the explosions, but released a statement Sunday accusing Hezbollah of attempting to divert attention from the implementation of the U.N. resolution that ended their monthlong war in 2006.

Among other things, the resolution requires Hezbollah to be disarmed, an action that has been resisted by the guerrilla group.