国际英语新闻：Clashes bring huge tension along Israel-Lebanon border

JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ever since Israel's war with the Lebanese-based Hezbollah four years ago, there have been constant warnings from both sides that a return to violence is just around the corner.

Those threats transformed into deadly fire on Tuesday with the killing of Lebanese and Israeli soldiers during an exchange across their shared border.

While the Lebanese army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) enjoy quiet cooperation via the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping force, Israel and Hezbollah are firmly eyeing one another in a constant state of alert.

Israel has repeatedly warned, though, since the summer of 2006, that if Hezbollah attacks Israel, then Israel would hold the Lebanese government responsible.

INITIAL CONFUSION

In the first hours after the initial reports of a cross-border clash, the picture was one of confusion.

Israeli army said it was fired on by people wearing Lebanese military uniforms. "An IDF force was fired upon from within Lebanon. The soldiers were on routine activity in Israeli territory, in an area that lies between the 'blue line' (the internationally recognized border between Israel and Lebanon) and the security fence, thus within Israeli territory," read a statement from the IDF.