After Teen Girls Cross Into Lebanon, IDF Criticizes Police: “Those Involved Must Face Justice”

The IDF issued a sharp condemnation today (Thursday) after 10 teenage girls crossed into Lebanese territory, criticizing law-enforcement authorities amid a recent series of similar incidents. The military stressed that the event disrupted operational activity and endangered forces operating in the area, calling on police and other enforcement agencies to take meaningful action against those involved.

In a statement, the IDF Spokesperson said, “This is another case of serious disruption to operational activity and a danger to the security of IDF forces operating in the area.” The spokesperson added: “Law-enforcement authorities are required to bring those involved to justice, in order to prevent these civilians from repeatedly engaging in this phenomenon, which constitutes a criminal offense.”

The incident took place yesterday, when 10 teenage girls crossed the border from Israel into Lebanon with the intention of establishing a settlement there. Following the border crossing, IDF troops and Israel Police forces were deployed to locate and return the girls. At the same time, the IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon as part of its activity in the area.

Security officials view the incident as extremely serious, particularly in light of the ongoing security tensions in southern Lebanon and the extensive operational activity being carried out by forces in the region. IDF sources say this is another incident in a series of similar cases in recent months, which add to the burden on forces operating along the border and require resources to be directed toward handling civilians who cross it.

Until it released its official statement of condemnation, the IDF had not publicly commented on the incident, which occurred yesterday afternoon alongside an escalation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, reserve soldiers said they were called up to handle the incident and were even forced to leave family vacations in order to take part in efforts to locate the girls. The military sees this as another illustration of the direct impact such events have on operational readiness and on forces' activity in the field.

According to the girls, their goal was to advance settlement in the area, which they said was necessary to preserve the gains of the war and prevent a return to the reality that emerged after the Lebanon wars and the fighting in the Gaza Strip. They also said: “We will take the land that you took from us and settle it.”