0 'Attack on LAF shows arrogant nature of Zionist entity'

Hezbollah statement calls gunfire exchange on Lebanon's border "surprising and provocative," equates it to attacking all of Lebanon.

The gunfire exchange between the IDF and Lebanese Armed Forces near the Hatzbani River on the Lebanese border shows "the true aggressive nature of the Zionist entity," UPI reported a Hezbollah statement as saying on Monday. The group called the incident "surprising and provocative."

Hezbollah equated an IDF attack on any member of the Lebanese army, the resistance, or civilian is equivalent to "an attack on all of Lebanon,"  stressing "complete solidarity with the Lebanese army...in the face of this arrogant, brutal enemy."

Five years after the Second Lebanon War broke out, Lebanese soldiers and IDF troops exchanged gunfire along the border earlier Monday.

IDF troops were operating along the border near the Hatzbani River when a Lebanese soldier opened fire at them. Israel returned fire at the Lebanese soldier. No IDF soldiers were injured in the incident. Lebanese media reported that one Lebanese soldier was injured from gunfire. The IDF reported the incident to the UNIFIL force stationed in Lebanon along the border, stating that Israel was not interested in an escalation of violence.

The army added that they believed the incident was contained and it did not appear that a larger operation would follow.

Lebanese news website Naharnet reported that the LAF opened fire when IDF soldiers crossed over to the Lebanese side of the  border. The IDF emphasized that they were operating on the Israeli side of the border.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the soldiers "behaved like they were supposed to. They are determined to defend themselves and the border."

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Monday praised the Lebanese Armed Forces for confronting Israel in an the border clash.

Suleiman was speaking at a celebration marking Lebanon's Army Day. 

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=231972