Israel reassures Lebanon

Israel said it does not seek further conflict with Lebanon after a border clash. “We do not want to cause an escalation, but the Israel Defense Forces will have to respond where dangerous shooting takes place,” Defense Minister Amir Peretz said in a statement Thursday following an exchange of fire overnight between Israeli and Lebanese troops along the border. No one was hurt in the incident, but it caused concern that a cease-fire in force since last summer’s war between Israel and Hezbollah could be crumbling. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the clash was triggered when Israeli forces crossed into Lebanon while scouring a frontier zone for bombs. Israel said its troops never strayed from its territory. They were reported to have crossed the fence between the two nations, but in an area where the fence lies inside Israeli territory and the international border is beyond it.