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BEIRUT - The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon determined on Wednesday Israeli soldiers were operating inside Israel at the onset of deadly border clashes with Lebanese troops that have raised fears of wider conflict.
A day after a senior Israeli officer, two Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist were killed in a rare skirmish between the Israeli and Lebanese armies, Israel appeared keen to show it would not be deterred from operating in the area.
Hezbollah, which stayed out of the fighting, vowed to cut off Israel's hand if it attacked the Lebanese Army.
In a diplomatic boost for Israel, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Israeli soldiers were inside Israeli territory when the border clashes erupted.
"UNIFIL established ... that the trees being cut by the Israeli army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side," said a statement quoting UNIFIL military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Naresh Bhatt.
"The UN position is that the Blue Line must be respected in its entirety by all parties."
Bhatt was referring to a border line drawn by the United Nations between Israel and Lebanon after an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.