Increased Israeli troops on the border. Military aircraft patrol the area. The Spanish ambassador to the UN blames Israel for the death of the UNIFIL soldier. Ban Ki-moon calls for calm and restraint on the parties to avoid an escalation.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Apparent calm reigns on the Golan Heights near the Sheba Farms, where yesterday Hezbollah and Israel exchanged fire. The Israeli army has increased the number of troops present, but the people who live on the border have been given permission to return to their homes. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes are flying over the area around Hasbaya, Marjayoun and al-Arqoub.

Yesterday morning an Israeli convoy was hit by a Hezbollah missile, killing two soldiers and wounding seven others.

Israeli forces responded by firing mortars in southern Lebanon. A UNIFIL soldier, the UN peacekeeping force, was killed. He was Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, 36 years of age. Born in Malaga, it was his second time on a UNIFIL mission. The Spanish ambassador to the UN, Roman Oyarzun Marchesi has blamed Israel for his death and demanded a thorough investigation into the killing.

Last night the UN Security Council condemned the death of the Spanish soldier. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked the parties to show "maximum calm and restraint", pushing them to "act responsibly to prevent any escalation in an already very tense region".

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that the masterminds of the attack will "pay the price". But among analysts believe it unlikely that a new war front will open up between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah is already very busy on the Syrian front  fighting opponents of President Bashar Assad; Israel is preparing to go to the polls in March and a new war will scare voters. Finally, everyone remembers the war fought in south Lebanon in 2006, which brought death and destruction to both sides without either emerging victor.

 

• ISRAEL-LEBANON-SYRIA
• hezbollah
• golan
• heights
• unifil
• UN