FIVE PEOPLE have died following a clash on the shared border between Israel and Lebanon today.

Three Lebanese soldiers, one Lebanese journalist, and one senior Israeli officer died in the skirmish – the reasons for which remain unclear.

It is believed that Hezbollah was not involved in the fighting.

The Lebanese army has claimed that an Israeli patrol illegally crossed the border into Lebanon, despite UN forces attempting to prevent them. The soldiers were allegedly trying to remove a tree that was blocking the view from their side.

Lebaese officials say that the Israeli troops opened fire and that they repsoneded.

However, Israeli officials say that their troops were fired upon first.

UN forces on the border are attempting to assuage anger and maintain peace, and have urged both sides to show restraint.

“UNIFIL peacekeepers are in the area and are trying to ascertain the circumstances of the incident and any possible casualties,” said Neeraj Singh, spokesman for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He added, “Our immediate priority at this time is to restore calm in the area”.

The Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, has condemned Israeli troops for entering Lebanon. He said that that act was a “violation of Lebanese sovereignty and demands” and was in violation of UN resolution 1701.

The incident marks the most serious clash since the ending of a fierce war between the countries four years ago. UN resolution 1701 saw the marking of the Blue Line, the UN-administered border between Israel and Lebanon, which both agreed to respect.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli military denies that their forces crossed the Blue Line.

The Israeli military issued a statement saying that its soldiers had been shot at by Lebanese forces while “on routine activity in Israeli territory in an area that lies between the blue line and the security fence, thus within Israeli territory”.