ianstone
08-03-2010, 01:40 PM
3 August 2010 Last updated at 18:08 -Lebanon border clash kills five people
The BBC's Wyre Davies: "United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon say they are trying to restore calm"
Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a Lebanese journalist have been killed in an exchange of fire in the border area.
The Lebanese say they opened fire after Israeli troops entered Lebanon. The Israelis deny crossing the border.
It is the first serious clash there since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militants.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#skip_feature_02) “Start Quote
I believe this is a one-time event”
End Quote Maj-Gen Gadi Eisenkot Head of Israel's northern command
In pictures: Israel-Lebanon clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10853998)
Lebanon's prime minister condemned the "aggression". But Israel warned of "consequences" if violence continued.
In a statement, Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Lebanese sovereignty had been violated.
The Lebanese army says Israeli soldiers crossed the border to uproot a tree which was blocking their view near the Lebanese village of Adaysseh.
A Lebanese army spokesman said it had fired warning shots and Israel had responded with fire from artillery positions and helicopters.
The army confirmed to the BBC that three of its soldiers had been killed and four wounded. The al-Akhbar newspaper confirmed that one of its journalists, Assaf Abu Rahhal, had also been killed.
Restraint urged The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said its troops had been working on its side of the border near the town of Kiryat Shemona, when they received warnings to leave the area.
Israel-Lebanon border
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#skip_feature_02) http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48592000/gif/_48592318_israel_lebanon_kiryat_shemonaaug10.gif
Known as Blue Line, it is not a formal international frontier, but in practice is accepted by both sides
A UN team drew up the Blue Line based on 1949 armistice line, itself based on 1923 border between French-mandated Lebanon and British-mandated Palestine
Heavily fortified and scene of frequent tension
Israeli troops crossed border in 1978 and occupied parts of southern Lebanon
In 2000 Israel withdrew its forces in accordance with UN resolution from 1978
Hezbollah cross-border raid led to 2006 conflict
UN brokered ceasefire after 34 days
Lebanon and UN force now control southern area
"The soldiers were on routine activity in Israeli territory, in an area that lies between the 'Blue Line' (the UN-drawn but commonly accepted border between Israel and Lebanon) and the security fence, thus within Israeli territory," the IDF said in a statement.
People in Lebanese army uniform then opened fire on the troops. The Israelis first said two officers had been seriously wounded, but then later confirmed that a senior officer had died.
He was named as 45-year-old Lt-Col Dov Harari from Netanya, a reserve commander in the engineering corps.
The army said an Israeli captain had been "critically wounded". Israeli media reported that he was in a stable condition in a Haifa hospital.
Maj-Gen Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Israeli military's northern command, told reporters he believed the incident was "a one-time event".
Speaking at a base near the Lebanese border, he said: "We received requests and demands from the highest ranks in the Lebanese army to cease fire."
However, he described the incident as a "deliberate ambush".
The UN peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon, Unifil, has urged both sides to show "maximum restraint" following the clash.
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says the clash is an indication of the tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the incident could have been caused by one of the sides misidentifying the correct location of the border.
The exchange comes a day after rockets were fired at the Israeli resort of Eilat, with a stray rocket killing one person in the nearby port of Aqaba in Jordan.
More Middle East stories (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east/)
RSS (http://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/world/middle_east/rss.xml)
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48593000/jpg/_48593726_009915567-1.jpgDeadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a journalist are killed in the first serious clash since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Iran rejects Brazil asylum offer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10854204)
Deadly blasts kill three in Iraq (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10857251)
Top Stories
Pakistan push to flooded villages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10847793)
Criticism ahead of Pakistan visit (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10847801)
Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Women 'refused help' before death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10849699)
Features & Analysis
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48593000/jpg/_48593410_whitleybay.jpgSelling the seaside (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10790303)
Would these posters draw you to an English holiday?
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48590000/jpg/_48590622_86545171(2).jpgRiver dipping (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10852394)
The fight against chlorine, changing and lane swimming
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48597000/jpg/_48597638_009915006-1.jpgNew World treasures (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-10850633)
Images of some of the additions to Unesco's protected heritage sites
Most Popular
Shared (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
2: In pictures: Charting the depths (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10817284)
3: 'Jaws' comes to a US beach (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10847838)
4: Remains of St John the Baptist 'found' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10849211)
5: Girl, 14, forced to be prostitute (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10844915)
Read (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: Women 'refused help' before death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10849699)
2: Angry driver grabbed helicopter (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-10851311)
3: Several dead in US work shooting (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10858000)
4: No rules swimming (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10852394)
5: Wikipedia and FBI in logo use row (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10851394)
6: Will.i.am against Jackson record (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10857643)
7: Model wants breastfeeding 'law' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10851615)
8: Inmate arrested over prison death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10851699)
9: All-over tan 'an impossibility' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10851331)
10: Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Watched/Listened (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: 'Jaws' comes to a US beach Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10847838)
2: 'It just missed a couple of the houses' Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10853040)
3: Top Gear's Stig removes his helmet Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8111984.stm)
4: Remains of St John the Baptist 'found' Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10849211)
5: Girl fights off NZ shark attack Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8492986.stm)
6: Deadly Lebanon-Israel clash over tree Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10858070)
7: Couple sell home for movie dream Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10854777)
8: Swimmers' brief shark encounter Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7944959.stm)
9: BBC News Channel Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089)
10: Flying into Pakistan disaster zone Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10844788)
Services
The BBC's Wyre Davies: "United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon say they are trying to restore calm"
Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a Lebanese journalist have been killed in an exchange of fire in the border area.
The Lebanese say they opened fire after Israeli troops entered Lebanon. The Israelis deny crossing the border.
It is the first serious clash there since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militants.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#skip_feature_02) “Start Quote
I believe this is a one-time event”
End Quote Maj-Gen Gadi Eisenkot Head of Israel's northern command
In pictures: Israel-Lebanon clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10853998)
Lebanon's prime minister condemned the "aggression". But Israel warned of "consequences" if violence continued.
In a statement, Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Lebanese sovereignty had been violated.
The Lebanese army says Israeli soldiers crossed the border to uproot a tree which was blocking their view near the Lebanese village of Adaysseh.
A Lebanese army spokesman said it had fired warning shots and Israel had responded with fire from artillery positions and helicopters.
The army confirmed to the BBC that three of its soldiers had been killed and four wounded. The al-Akhbar newspaper confirmed that one of its journalists, Assaf Abu Rahhal, had also been killed.
Restraint urged The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said its troops had been working on its side of the border near the town of Kiryat Shemona, when they received warnings to leave the area.
Israel-Lebanon border
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#skip_feature_02) http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48592000/gif/_48592318_israel_lebanon_kiryat_shemonaaug10.gif
Known as Blue Line, it is not a formal international frontier, but in practice is accepted by both sides
A UN team drew up the Blue Line based on 1949 armistice line, itself based on 1923 border between French-mandated Lebanon and British-mandated Palestine
Heavily fortified and scene of frequent tension
Israeli troops crossed border in 1978 and occupied parts of southern Lebanon
In 2000 Israel withdrew its forces in accordance with UN resolution from 1978
Hezbollah cross-border raid led to 2006 conflict
UN brokered ceasefire after 34 days
Lebanon and UN force now control southern area
"The soldiers were on routine activity in Israeli territory, in an area that lies between the 'Blue Line' (the UN-drawn but commonly accepted border between Israel and Lebanon) and the security fence, thus within Israeli territory," the IDF said in a statement.
People in Lebanese army uniform then opened fire on the troops. The Israelis first said two officers had been seriously wounded, but then later confirmed that a senior officer had died.
He was named as 45-year-old Lt-Col Dov Harari from Netanya, a reserve commander in the engineering corps.
The army said an Israeli captain had been "critically wounded". Israeli media reported that he was in a stable condition in a Haifa hospital.
Maj-Gen Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Israeli military's northern command, told reporters he believed the incident was "a one-time event".
Speaking at a base near the Lebanese border, he said: "We received requests and demands from the highest ranks in the Lebanese army to cease fire."
However, he described the incident as a "deliberate ambush".
The UN peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon, Unifil, has urged both sides to show "maximum restraint" following the clash.
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says the clash is an indication of the tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the incident could have been caused by one of the sides misidentifying the correct location of the border.
The exchange comes a day after rockets were fired at the Israeli resort of Eilat, with a stray rocket killing one person in the nearby port of Aqaba in Jordan.
More Middle East stories (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east/)
RSS (http://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/world/middle_east/rss.xml)
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48593000/jpg/_48593726_009915567-1.jpgDeadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a journalist are killed in the first serious clash since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Iran rejects Brazil asylum offer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10854204)
Deadly blasts kill three in Iraq (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10857251)
Top Stories
Pakistan push to flooded villages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10847793)
Criticism ahead of Pakistan visit (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10847801)
Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Women 'refused help' before death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10849699)
Features & Analysis
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48593000/jpg/_48593410_whitleybay.jpgSelling the seaside (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10790303)
Would these posters draw you to an English holiday?
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48590000/jpg/_48590622_86545171(2).jpgRiver dipping (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10852394)
The fight against chlorine, changing and lane swimming
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48597000/jpg/_48597638_009915006-1.jpgNew World treasures (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-10850633)
Images of some of the additions to Unesco's protected heritage sites
Most Popular
Shared (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
2: In pictures: Charting the depths (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10817284)
3: 'Jaws' comes to a US beach (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10847838)
4: Remains of St John the Baptist 'found' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10849211)
5: Girl, 14, forced to be prostitute (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10844915)
Read (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: Women 'refused help' before death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10849699)
2: Angry driver grabbed helicopter (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-10851311)
3: Several dead in US work shooting (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10858000)
4: No rules swimming (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10852394)
5: Wikipedia and FBI in logo use row (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10851394)
6: Will.i.am against Jackson record (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10857643)
7: Model wants breastfeeding 'law' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10851615)
8: Inmate arrested over prison death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10851699)
9: All-over tan 'an impossibility' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10851331)
10: Deadly Israel-Lebanon troop clash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692)
Watched/Listened (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692#)
1: 'Jaws' comes to a US beach Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10847838)
2: 'It just missed a couple of the houses' Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10853040)
3: Top Gear's Stig removes his helmet Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8111984.stm)
4: Remains of St John the Baptist 'found' Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10849211)
5: Girl fights off NZ shark attack Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8492986.stm)
6: Deadly Lebanon-Israel clash over tree Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10858070)
7: Couple sell home for movie dream Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10854777)
8: Swimmers' brief shark encounter Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7944959.stm)
9: BBC News Channel Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089)
10: Flying into Pakistan disaster zone Watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10844788)
Services