UPDATE - Lebanese soldier injured, kidnapped by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon: Army

UPDATES WITH ARMY CONFIRMATION, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, EDITS THROUGH

By Wassim Seifeddine and Rania Abu Shamala

BEIRUT (AA) – The Lebanese army confirmed on Monday that a soldier was injured and kidnapped by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the army said that it had lost contact with one of its soldiers in the border town of Kfar Shouba on Sunday.

The army said the soldier was in civilian clothing when he was shot and injured by Israeli forces before being taken into Israel.

The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar earlier reported that 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),” well-placed sources said.

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.