JERUSALEM (WJC)–Lebanese and Israeli troops exchanged fire on the border on Tuesday, leaving three soldiers wounded. The clashes were the most serious since the Second Lebanon War four years ago, authorities said. Israeli military spokesman Capt. Barak Raz said the fighting broke out as soldiers were on a routine patrol. He said the force was inside Israeli territory when it came under fire. The Israelis retaliated with artillery fire, the officials said. IDF officials said two of its soldiers were critically wounded, while a Lebanese army officer said one of its soldiers was lightly injured.
A Lebanese officer said the clash occurred as Israeli troops tried to remove a tree from the Lebanese side of the border. The fighting did not appear to involve Hezbollah fighters.
After the 2006 war, the United Nations deployed a 12,000-member peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) in the border area. UNIFIL confirmed that the Lebanese and Israeli armies had exchanged fire and said it was urging “maximum restraint.”
*
Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress