Rocket Attack in North; IDF and Lebanese Army Exchange Fire
A rocket attack near the northern border around noon coincided with a rare exchange of gunfire between the IDF and the Lebanese army.

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, Arutz Sheva
August 3, 2010

Soldiers at Lebanese border.
 

A rare exchange of gunfire between the IDF and the Lebanese army around noon Tuesday touched off a short battle and rumors of a rocket attack. The IDF has not reported if there were any injuries or property damage, but Lebanon said two of its soldiers suffered light wounds.

Most previous battles in the north have involved Hizbullah terrorists and not Lebanese army forces. Israeli intelligence officers and military analysts say the two armies are increasing cooperation and working together.

Lebanese forces shot at the Israeli soldiers after refusing to obey IDF orders to evacuate the area in which the Israeli forces were working, according to military sources.

Lebanese army spokesmen reported an opposite version, saying that they had asked the IDF to leave the area and claiming it was in Lebanese territory. They also claimed that they fired a warning shot in the air and that the IDF responded with tank fire.

Rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire touched off false reports that Katyusha rockets had exploded in the area. The firefight occurred one day after the firing of five missiles on Eilat at the southern tip of Israel, apparently from the Sinai but possibly from southern Jordan.

Quiet returned to the north shortly after Tuesday's clash.