UNIFIL soldiers patrol along a road near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the town of Al-Wazzani, Lebanon, on July 6, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

UNIFIL soldiers patrol along a road near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the town of Al-Wazzani, Lebanon, on July 6, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

UNIFIL soldiers patrol along a road near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the town of Al-Wazzani, Lebanon, on July 6, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

UNIFIL soldiers patrol along a road near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the town of Al-Wazzani, Lebanon, on July 6, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Thursday that its chief is in contact with authorities of Israel and Lebanon to prevent further escalation following their exchange of shelling on the border earlier in the day.

"UNIFIL's head of mission Aroldo Lazaro Saenz is working fully to prevent further escalation on the border," UNIFIL said in a statement.

"This incident comes at a sensitive time and in an area that witnessed tensions earlier this week. We urge everyone to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could lead to further escalation," the UN mission added.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army fired 15 shells toward southern Lebanon after two rockets from Lebanon landed near the border, according to Israeli and Lebanese sources.

UNIFIL said explosions were detected near Majidiyeh early in the morning and its peacekeepers later found the shells were fired from Israel and landed in the border village of Kfarchouba.