The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon has urged de-escalation after a big increase in hostilities at the Lebanese-Israeli border, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire for almost a year, Reuters reports.

The Unifil force had witnessed “a heavy intensification of the hostilities across the Blue Line” and throughout its area of operations, spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Reuters.

“We are concerned at the increased escalation across the Blue Line and urge all actors to immediately de-escalate,” he said.

The Blue Line refers to the frontier between Lebanon and Israel.

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