WORLD / Middle East
Shooting erupts on Israel-Lebanon border
(AP)
Updated: 2007-02-08 08:41
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanese troops deployed along the border with Israel
opened fire late Wednesday as Israeli troops searched for Hezbollah
bombs, drawing retaliatory fire, officials from both sides said.
Lebanese policeman walks in front of vehicles donated from the United
States to the Lebanese Government with his police dog at a handover
ceremony at the Dbayeh barracks, north of Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb.
7, 2007. [AP]
It was the first time that shooting erupted across the border since
shortly after an Aug. 14 cease-fire that ended a 34-day war between
Israeli forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah militants.
Lebanese troops opened fire on a bulldozer after it crossed the so-called
Blue Line - the UN-demarcated boundary - and entered about 20 yards into
Lebanon, Lebanese officials said.
Israeli troops responded with tanks and light weapons, Israeli security
officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized
to speak to the media.
The exchange occurred near the Lebanese village of Maroun el-Rass, which
was the scene of heavy fighting in the summer war, in the central sector
of the border.
The Lebanese military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity
pending the release of a formal statement from the army command, said the
Lebanese army fired volleys of machine guns toward the bulldozer.
Israeli forces responded with five anti-tank grenades that targeted an
army armored vehicle and a transport jeep, the Lebanese officials said.
Lebanese troops did not suffer any injuries. There was no immediate word
of any Israeli casualties.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli army said shooting erupted on the
Israel-Lebanon border during an Israeli operation to search for bombs
planted by Hezbollah guerrillas.
The army said troops operating in Israeli territory along the frontier
came under fire, and that the source of the shooting was apparently
Lebanese troops nearby. When the attackers refused to quit firing, the
Israeli troops opened fire at them, the army said.
The Israeli army said the Israeli force was clearing land and searching
for bombs near the spot where Israeli troops discovered four explosive
devices planted by Hezbollah on Monday.
The bulldozers crossed the heavily guarded border fence but remained
inside Israeli territory, which extends north of the fence in that area,
the army said.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL , is a 12,000-strong
peacekeeping force deployed to assist the Lebanese army patrol southern
Lebanon to enforce the cease-fire.
"We're aware of an ongoing incident," said Liam McDowell, a UNIFIL
spokesman, but added they don't have further information.
About 15,000 troops deployed to south Lebanon under the UN resolution
that included the cease-fire which ended the fighting. More than 1,000
people have died in Lebanon and about 150 in Israel in the 34-day war.
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