Israeli army says six Hezbollah fighters killed in Bint Jbeil

The Israeli military said its forces killed six Hezbollah fighters in the flashpoint southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Friday during a clash that included a firefight.

According to the Israeli military, troops identified six Hezbollah fighters operating Bint Jbeil, an area that saw heavy fighting before a ceasefire was declared last week.

"Following the identification, an exchange of fire began between the (militants) and the soldiers, during which the soldiers eliminated two (militants)," the military said.

"Subsequently, the soldiers struck the structure from which the (militants) had been operating. In the strike, the four remaining (militants) were eliminated," it added.

The clash came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was trying to "sabotage" efforts to secure peace with Lebanon following an extension of the ceasefire between the two sides.