Israel abducts Lebanese from Shebaa Farms

SIDON: Israeli forces Thursday released three of the five Lebanese shepherds abducted earlier in the day from the Shebaa Farms, south Lebanon, a security source told The Daily Star

Ismail Zaara and his brother, Hassan, along with three women were working on the Bastara farm when they were kidnapped, the source said.

Minutes later, the women were freed.

U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon as well as the Lebanese Army have launched an investigation into the incident and listened to the testimony of several witnesses.

Hezbollah's-Al-Manar television said the Israeli army crossed the Blue Line some 100 meters inside Lebanese territory to conduct the operation.