An Israeli soldier was killed by sniper fire from Lebanon on Sunday evening, the Israeli army said in a statement today.
"The Israel Defence Forces officially confirms that an IDF soldier was shot while driving along the Israeli-Lebanese border, near Rosh Hanikra," it said. "The soldier was treated at the scene and was then evacuated to a hospital. He later died of his wounds."
"Initial inquiry confirmed that the sniper is a member of the Lebanese Armed Forces."
The military earlier said that a Lebanese soldier had opened fire on an Israeli civilian vehicle near the Mediterranean border crossing at Rosh Hanikra.
Israeli news website Ynet, quoting army sources, said that the Lebanese soldier had fired six or seven rounds, probably "acting on his own initiative".
The incident was not confirmed by the Lebanese army.
The Israeli military statement said that Israel had protested to the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
"The IDF has protested this outrageous breach of Israel's sovereignty with UNIFIL and has heightened its state of preparedness along the border," it said.
"We will not tolerate aggression against the state of Israel and maintain the right to exercise self-defence.
