Sunday, December 15, 2013

Israeli Soldier Killed by Shots From Lebanon

15 December 2013
Last updated at 18:23 ET
BBC World News

Israeli soldier killed by shots from Lebanon

An Israeli soldier has been killed by shots fired from across the Lebanese border, the Israeli military has said.

It said the shooter was a Lebanese army sniper. Up to seven shots were reportedly fired.

Israeli media said the incident happened near the border crossing at Rosh Hanikra, and the soldier's family had been told.

The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon said it had been informed about a "serious incident".

Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti said the shooting happened "on the Israeli side of the Blue Line", referring to a UN-drawn line demarcating the border between the two countries.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were investigating the shooting late on Sunday, but there appeared to have been no infiltration from Lebanon.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Israeli helicopters flying over southern Lebanon, and that flares were fired in the area for illumination, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reports.

The military warned it would not "tolerate aggression against the state of Israel", according to the Associated Press news agency.

The Lebanese army is now reportedly on high alert in the area.

Lebanese troops have opened fire in the past after alleging that Israeli troops had tried to cross the border.

In 2006, Israel fought a war against Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group.

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