Audio + Transcript of Israel Army Radio’s Interview with UNIFIL Spokesman,
Milos Struger, 4 Aug 2010
http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/08/04/audio-transcript-of-israel-army-radios-interview-with-unifil-spokesman-milos-struger-4-aug-2010/

Yesterday, 3 August 2010, IDF forces were conducting routine maintenance
work, which had been coordinated with UNIFIL, on the technical fence near
the border with Lebanon (the ‘Blue Line’ is the internationally recognized
border), when they were attacked by Lebanese Armed Forces. An LAF sniper
opened fire at IDF officers observing the work, killing Lt. Col. (Res.) Dov
Harari , and critically wounding Captain (Res.) Ezra Lakia.

The IDF force responded immediately to the attack, returning fire with light
arms at a force of the LAF, and the IDF also made use of artillery fire.
Several minutes later an Israel Air Force (IAF) helicopter fired at the LAF
Battalion Command Center in Al-Taybeh, damaging several LAF armored combat
vehicles.

Below is the trascript and a link to an interview with UNIFIL advisor, Milos
Struger and Israeli Army Radio from this morning. In the interview, Struger
confirms that the IDF had coordinated with UNIFIL in advance as well as that
the IDF was below the Blue Line, i.e. within Israeli territory.

Click here to listen to UNIFIL Spokesman – Milos Struger
http://213.8.193.29/msnvideo/glz/unifil-man-glz-040810.wma

Transcript:

Golan Yochpaz, Israel Army Radio broadcaster, interviews Milos Struger, a
Senior Political Advisor to the Commander of UNIFIL Forces along the
Israeli-Lebanese border.

Yochpaz: “Those in charge of keeping the peace in the tense region on the
border between Israel and Lebanon are UNIFIL soldiers, who were witnesses to
the incident between two sides yesterday. The Hungarian diplomat Milos
Struger who is used as a political advisor for the commander of the UNIFIL
forces in the area, and is located with the UN forces there. A few hours ago
we spoke to him over the phone and spoke about what appeared to be a planned
deadly ambush by the LAF against the IDF. Struger clarifies that the IDF
operated accordingly, and notified us accordingly about their intent to work
to clear the region. It is not clear to us how such a routine activity,
which occurs almost daily, ended with casualties to both sides.”

Struger: “IDF informed UNIFIL that they are going to do some work cutting
the tree from the other side north of the technical fence but south of the
blue line. The situation on the ground quickly became tense because the LAF
also deployed their forces on the ground. We also had our own people who
were trying to diffuse this tension.”

Yochpaz translates Struger’s comments.

Yochpaz: “We now ask from Struger according to his facts, where exactly did
the IDF work on the trees in relation to the boundaries on the map.”

Struger: “It was in the area of al Adessa just north of Misgad Am. Tomorrow
we will have a technical team to exactly establish the location in relation
to the blue line.”

Yochpaz translates Struger’s comments

Struger: “I can confirm that we received notification from the IDF early in
the morning about this work, and we conveyed this to Lebanese army. Our
investigation has been launched today…”

Yochpaz: “We asked him if the IDF coordinated the activity with the LAF
through UNIFIL and he confirms the statement, saying it was coordinated. We
received the message in the morning and gave to the Lebanese army, meaning
the Lebanese army knew about the event. Our investigation is not yet
complete and I am waiting for final report that we will be released today.
After UNIFIL workers will meet with Lebanese Army representatives and
Israeli army representatives and present their findings. In Israel we know
about a string of provocations and baiting that have occurred recently
against IDF soldiers. How does UNIFIL intend to act in regards to this
issue? We now ask the Hungarian diplomat.”

Struger: “Daily basis we are dealing with all the different situations.
Sometimes there are incidents and we manage to resolve the potential
danger.”

Yochpaz translates Struger’s comments and adds: “This is the most serious
incident to occur along the Lebanese border since 2006.”

Aerial Photograph of Location of Incident Along Lebanese Border, 3 Aug 2010
http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/08/03/aerial-photograph-of-location-of-incident-along-lebanese-border-3-aug-2010/