FOLLOWING A VIOLENT clash between Israeli and Lebanese troops on the UN-controlled border that separates the two countries, the UN has supported Israel’s claim that its troops did not illegally enter Lebanon.

The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon said that when the clash occured Israeli soldiers were on their side of the border.

Tuesday’s violence resulted in five deaths: three Lebanese soldiers, one Lebanese journalist, and one senior Israeli officer.

It is the worst violence to occur since the 2006 war between the two countries.

During that conflict 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, died. On the Israeli side 158 people, mostly soldiers, died.

The clash allegedly erupted when Israeli soldiers began to cut the branches of a tree that was blocking their view of the Lebanese border. Israel says its troops were within its border, Lebanon says that they crossed over.

Israel and Lebanon dispute parts of the border, known as the “Blue Line”.

UNIFIL military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Naresh Bhatt said: “UNIFIL established … that the trees being cut by the Israeli army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon was responsible for the incident, adding in televised speech: “Our policy is clear, Israel responds and will continue to respond with force, to any attack against its citizens and soldiers.”

Meanwhile, Lebanon blames Israel for not following established UN protocol for action on the turbulent border, saying that if the UN had been informed of the soldiers’ plans, then the deaths would have been avoided.