| Israel demands Lebanon
takes control of northern border JERUSALEM,
Lebanon - Israel urged the Lebanese government Thursday to take action to bring their
common border under control after an attack by the Shiite militia Hezbollah which left one
Israeli soldier dead.
"The Lebanese government must take responsibility for the Israeli-Lebanese border and
prevent terrorist organisations... from inflaming the situation," the Israeli army
said in a statement.
"The Lebanese government is responsible for this deterioration as it has allowed
Hezbollah to act at will," it added.
Sources in the defence ministry said Israel was determined to respond to any
"provocations" by Hezbollah but did not want to see an escalation in tensions
along the border.
Israel responded with air raids and artillery fire after the attack on one of its army
posts in the disputed Shebaa Farms border area on Wednesday afternoon.
One soldier was killed and three others wounded in the attack on the post, the first major
flare-up in cross-border violence in five months. |