Israel shells south Lebanon after Palestinian inflitration bid, Hezbollah retaliates
Israel shelled a border region in southern Lebanon on Friday, two Lebanese security sources said, after a blast occurred on the border fence, according to the Israeli army.
One of the security sources said the shelling followed an infiltration attempt from the Lebanese side of the border, while the Israeli army said it was responding to a blast that caused "light damage" to the border barrier.
Lebanese media reports said the failed infiltration attempt was carried out by a Palestinian group.
"IDF (Israeli army) forces are currently responding with artillery fire towards Lebanese territory," the Israeli military said in a statement.
The Israeli shelling targeted the villages of Dhayra and Alma al-Shaab, AFP correspondents in the area said.
It struck a Lebanese army post in Dhayra, said the second security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.
Hezbollah later said it targeted four Israeli military posts on the border in response to the Israeli shelling. Media reports said Hezbollah used machineguns in the attack. Israel later announced that one of its drones was bombing Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The flare-up is the latest in a series of incidents at the Israel-Lebanon border after a weekend onslaught by Hamas on Israel triggered fierce fighting, and as Hamas and Israel traded heavy fire for a seventh day.
On Monday, Hezbollah said Israeli strikes killed three of its members, while Palestinian fighters claimed a thwarted infiltration bid.
On Tuesday, Israel said it hit Hezbollah observation posts, while Hamas' armed wing claimed rocket fire.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli position near the Lebanese village of Dhayra. Retaliatory Israeli fire wounded three people.
Source: Agence France Presse, Naharnet
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