By Wassim Seifeddine and Rania Abu Shamala
BEIRUT (AA) - A Lebanese soldier was injured and kidnapped by Israeli army forces in southern Lebanon, well-placed sources said on Monday.
According to the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, the soldier was injured by Israeli army fire near the Shanouh Farm on the outskirts of Kfar Shouba town, before he was taken into Israel.
“The soldier’s family awaits his transfer by Israel to the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL),” the sources said.
There was no immediate comment from Lebanese or Israeli authorities on the report.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict last September.
Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 1,100 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of at least 85 people and injuries to more than 280 others.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.