Two Lebanese soldiers killed in border clash with Israeli troops, homes set ablaze, civlians injured

Ma'an - Lebanon-based Al-Manar TV reported two Lebanese soldiers were killed and at least two civilians injured in an ongoing exchange of fire with Israeli troops along the Israel-Lebanon border that began shortly after noon on Tuesday.

News outlets said Israeli helicopters arrived on the scene before 2p.m., with Al-Jadid TV reporting shots fired by the helicopters toward the Lebanese town of Adeisseh, with reports of intermittent artillery fire, and at least two homes set ablaze. 

An Israeli military spokesman denied reports that rockets were launched from southern Lebanon toward Israel, but confirmed Israeli fire toward a Lebanese military position. He said reports that Israeli forces had entered Lebanon were false, adding that troops were between the blue line and the security fence.

Israeli news reports said a tank in the upper Galilee opened fire toward a Lebanese army position in southern Lebanon, responding to Lebanese fire.

2 dead, injured

Lebanese officials identified the two injured in Tuesday's clash as Hasan Nazzal, a civilian, and Lebanese soldier Ibrahim Abboud, Narnarnet reported, with Reuters saying that by 2 o'clock, clashes had killed two soldiers.

PFLP-GC reported acting in area

Online news agency Naharnet in Lebanon said the country's Voice of Free Lebanon reported "strange activity" in the central Bekaa Valley town of Qoussaya, near the Galilee.

The report said "strange, young bearded men have been seen in PFLP-GC bases in Qoussaya," and quoted locals saying "These elements have started deploying three weeks ago," wearing combat uniforms.

The PFLP-GC is a Palestinian faction, which broke off from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and formed the General Command unit.

Residents of the Galilee told the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz that several loud explosions were heard in the area in the afternoon.

The clashes follow one day after rockets landed in both Israel and Jordan, reportedly fired from the northern Egyptian Sinai. Egyptian security officials denied the claims.

The fire killed one Jordanian taxi driver in the port city of Aqaba.