Exchanges of gunfire erupted between Israeli and Lebanese soldiers along Israel’s northern border Tuesday, marking the first serious escalation since the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

An IDF officer was killed and another officer seriously wounded in clashes with Lebanese forces on the border, OC Northern Command Maj. Gen.Gadi Eizencott said in a press conference. Both officers were hit during an exchange of fire.

The officer was identified as battalion commander Lt. Col. (Res.)  Dov Harari, 43.


Eizencott told reporters that Lebanese snipers ambushed the Israeli officers who were on operational duty inside Israeli territory when they were hit. Israel had informed UNIFIL of plans to carry out the work which focussed on clearing the shrubs and greenery.

According to initial reports, the work took place in Israel's territory underneath the Lebanese village. Three IDF officers stood at a vantage point in Israel overlooking the site when they were shot.

Eizencott said at Lebanon's request Israel halted the gunfire to allow them to evacuate the bodies of the dead soldiers, but half an hour later the Lebanese troops resumed fire.

Reports from Lebanon claim at least three Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist were killed and a number of other soldiers and civilians injured. Some foreign networks claimed Israeli soldiers were also wounded, but there has been no official response from the Israeli Army concerning the claims.
 

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar satellite television reported that a high-ranking Israeli official was killed.

There were conflicting reports on how the situation escalated at noon Tuesday.
 

Lebanese media reports said the violence erupted after its soldiers opened fire at an Israeli Army patrol it claimed was uprooting a tree inside Lebanese territory.  

Lebanon’s state run National News Agency said the exchanges began after Israeli troops tried to install surveillance cameras near the south Lebanese village Adaysseh.

The Israeli Army said soldiers were working inside Israel’s territory between the security fence and the international border when they were fired upon, not far from Kibbutz Misgav Am.

Israel responded with artillery fire and a tank shell hit a Lebanese Army armored vehicle setting it on fire, and several buildings in the south Lebanon village were damaged.

There were a number of reports of rockets fired at Israel’s Upper Galilee, however Israel Police told Israel Radio they appear to be unsubstantiated but that security forces were searching the area.

Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman called on the country to "stand up to Israel's violation of U.N. Resolution 1701 - whatever the cost."

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) tried to contain the situation and called on both sides to maintain restraint. UNIFIL Spokesperson Neeraj Singh confirmed there had been an exchange of fire along the Blue Line, the border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman authorized Israel's ambassador to the U.N. Gabriella Shalev to lodge an official complaint against Lebanon with the United Nations Security Council, for brutally violating Security Council Resolution 1701.