Israeli military uprooting more trees near site of deadly clash with Lebanese troops

Israeli military uprooting trees on Lebanon border

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it is uprooting more trees in the same area where its forces engaged in a deadly clash with Lebanese soldiers.

The military spokesman says the army is “continuing operations as usual” on Wednesday. The official spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

Lebanese troops who claim the area is Lebanese territory fired on Israeli soldiers who uprooted a tree there on Tuesday. A fierce border battle killed a senior Israeli officer, two Lebanese soldiers and a journalist.

Israel claims the territory is Israeli. The United Nations, which drew the border, is investigating the conflicting claims.

The clash highlighted the volatility of the frontier, where Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militants warred four years ago.