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Three killed as Israel and Hezbollah clash on Lebanese border Three killed as Israel and Hezbollah clash on Lebanese border
(about 2 hours later)
Two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish UN peacekeeper have been killed as Hezbollah militants trade fire with Israeli forces on the Lebanese border. Two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish UN peacekeeper have been killed as Hezbollah militants traded fire with Israeli forces on the Lebanese border.
A spokesman for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) urged "maximum restraint to prevent an escalation". After Israeli forces were hit by missile fire, they responded by firing shells into southern Lebanon.
The peacekeeper was killed close to the disputed Shebaa Farms area, where an Israeli convoy was earlier hit by anti-tank missiles, killing two soldiers. A UN spokesman urged "maximum restraint to prevent an escalation".
The Israeli military responded by firing shells into southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency security meeting and said the attackers would "pay the full price".
Hezbollah said it carried out the missile attack in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that killed six of its fighters and an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general in the Syrian Golan Heights 10 days ago. The cross-border violence erupted when Israeli military vehicles were struck by anti-tank missiles at about 11:35 (09:35 GMT) near Mt Dov, in the Shebaa Farms area, a tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet.
Two soldiers died in the attack, which Hezbollah said was in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that killed six of its fighters and an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general in the Syrian Golan Heights 10 days ago.
'Tragic incident''Tragic incident'
The cross-border violence erupted when Israeli military vehicles were hit at about 11:35 (09:35 GMT) near Mt Dov, in the Shebaa Farms area, a tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. The Israeli military identified the two soldiers as Maj Yochai Kalangel and Staff Sgt Dor Chaim Nini. Seven others others were injured, two of them moderately. The military rejected a report by Lebanon's official National News Agency that one had been captured.
The Israeli military said two soldiers were killed, identifying them as Maj Yochai Kalangel and Staff Sgt Dor Chaim Nini. Seven others others were injured, two of them moderately. But the military rejected a report by Lebanon's official National News Agency that one had been captured.
Just over an hour later, mortars hit an Israeli military position on Mt Hermon, prompting troops to close the site and evacuate civilians from a ski resort in the area.Just over an hour later, mortars hit an Israeli military position on Mt Hermon, prompting troops to close the site and evacuate civilians from a ski resort in the area.
The Israeli military said it responded to the attacks with combined aerial and ground strikes on Hezbollah operational positions along the border. Lebanese officials said at least 50 artillery shells were fired at the villages of Majidiyeh, Abbasiyeh and Kfar Chouba. The Israeli military said it had responded to the attacks with combined aerial and ground strikes on Hezbollah operational positions along the border. Lebanese officials said at least 50 artillery shells were fired at the villages of Majidiyeh, Abbasiyeh and Kfar Chouba.
Later, Unifil announced that one of its peacekeepers had been killed. Later, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) announced that one of its peacekeepers had been killed close to the Shebaa Farms area.
"We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident," spokesman Andrea Tenenti said, without specifying the source of the fire."We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident," spokesman Andrea Tenenti said, without specifying the source of the fire.
He also declined to give the peacekeeper's nationality, but Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed on Twitter his "great sadness at the death of a Spanish soldier in Lebanon".
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, BeirutAnalysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Beirut
After Israel's surprise air strike inside Syria on 18 January, it was clear that Hezbollah and its Iranian backers would feel obliged to respond. Now they have done, with a attack which killed two Israeli soldiers, triggering an artillery barrage.After Israel's surprise air strike inside Syria on 18 January, it was clear that Hezbollah and its Iranian backers would feel obliged to respond. Now they have done, with a attack which killed two Israeli soldiers, triggering an artillery barrage.
The question now is whether the two sides will regard honour as satisfied by their responses so far, or feel obliged to pursue further revenge, raising the prospect of a spiral of violence which might be hard to stop.The question now is whether the two sides will regard honour as satisfied by their responses so far, or feel obliged to pursue further revenge, raising the prospect of a spiral of violence which might be hard to stop.
Everyone is mindful of the Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, which lasted a month and caused death, destruction and disruption on both sides of the border without either side clearly winning.Everyone is mindful of the Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, which lasted a month and caused death, destruction and disruption on both sides of the border without either side clearly winning.
The feeling is that neither Hezbollah nor Israel has much interest in an escalation to that point.The feeling is that neither Hezbollah nor Israel has much interest in an escalation to that point.
Hezbollah is already heavily embroiled in the war in Syria. Israel's leaders face general elections in March. They could benefit if a robust response was seen to punish Hezbollah without repercussions, but a disruptive war could backfire at the polls.Hezbollah is already heavily embroiled in the war in Syria. Israel's leaders face general elections in March. They could benefit if a robust response was seen to punish Hezbollah without repercussions, but a disruptive war could backfire at the polls.
So both sides may try to limit hostilities. But the logic of war sometimes leads to escalation, even if nobody wants it.So both sides may try to limit hostilities. But the logic of war sometimes leads to escalation, even if nobody wants it.
The Spanish defence ministry later identified the soldier as Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, a 36-year-old corporal in a mechanised infantry regiment.The Spanish defence ministry later identified the soldier as Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, a 36-year-old corporal in a mechanised infantry regiment.
His unit had been stationed at the Miguel de Cervantes base near Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, and on Wednesday had been at a position near the village of Ghajar, it added.His unit had been stationed at the Miguel de Cervantes base near Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, and on Wednesday had been at a position near the village of Ghajar, it added.
The UN Special Co-ordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, expressed "deep concern over the serious deterioration of the security situation" and "urgently called on all parties to refrain from any actions that could destabilise the situation further".The UN Special Co-ordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, expressed "deep concern over the serious deterioration of the security situation" and "urgently called on all parties to refrain from any actions that could destabilise the situation further".
'Criminal terror attack''Criminal terror attack'
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "prepared to act powerfully on all fronts", adding: "Security comes before everything else." Mr Netanyahu said Israel was "prepared to act powerfully on all fronts", adding: "Security comes before everything else."
His office accused Iran, Hezbollah's main backer, of being behind what it described as a "criminal terror attack" by the Shia Islamist movement.His office accused Iran, Hezbollah's main backer, of being behind what it described as a "criminal terror attack" by the Shia Islamist movement.
In a statement, Hezbollah said the attack was carried out by a cell calling itself the "heroic martyrs of Quneitra", an apparent reference to an area of the Syrian Golan Heights where the Israeli air strike took place on 18 January.In a statement, Hezbollah said the attack was carried out by a cell calling itself the "heroic martyrs of Quneitra", an apparent reference to an area of the Syrian Golan Heights where the Israeli air strike took place on 18 January.
Sources in Israel said that attack was aimed at stopping an attack on Israeli soil.Sources in Israel said that attack was aimed at stopping an attack on Israeli soil.
The Israeli military had already boosted its air defences and stepped up surveillance along its northern frontiers, after Hezbollah and Iran vowed to seek revenge.The Israeli military had already boosted its air defences and stepped up surveillance along its northern frontiers, after Hezbollah and Iran vowed to seek revenge.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli aircraft bombed Syrian army artillery positions in response to two rockets that were fired the previous day into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli medics said up to seven people were lightly injured by the rocket fire.Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli aircraft bombed Syrian army artillery positions in response to two rockets that were fired the previous day into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli medics said up to seven people were lightly injured by the rocket fire.
The flare-up along the Israeli-Lebanon frontier recalls the beginning of the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, which was triggered by a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli military vehicle that saw eight Israeli soldiers killed and two kidnapped.The flare-up along the Israeli-Lebanon frontier recalls the beginning of the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, which was triggered by a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli military vehicle that saw eight Israeli soldiers killed and two kidnapped.
What are the Shebaa Farms?What are the Shebaa Farms?