IDF soldiers training in a mock Lebanese village. Photo: Paul Alster.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Gen. Paolo Serra said on Friday that Israeli soldiers had crossed the Blue Line into Lebanon earlier this week in an incident that left four IDF wounded, and urged both the Jewish State and Beirut to cooperate with an investigation into the incident.

“Even as UNIFIL investigators are working on the case, it is clear that the presence of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon in violation of the Blue Line constitutes a serious breach of the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,” Serra said in a statement, reported by Lebanon’s The Daily Star.

“UNIFIL has strongly protested the violation to the Israeli [Army] and called for its full cooperation with UNIFIL’s investigations into the incident,” he added.

Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Wednesday the soldiers were wounded during an “operational activity meant to preserve the calm for the northern communities in particular and for the residents of Israel in general,” Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported.

Yaalon added “the force’s movement activated an explosive device.”

“During an overnight activity adjacent to the northern border an explosion occurred, injuring four IDF soldiers lightly-moderately. the soldiers were evacuated to the hospital for further treatment. the incident is being investigated,” said the IDF in a statement to The Algemeiner repeating its original stance on the incident.