Hezbollah, Israel trade fire on Lebanon's border

The Iran-backed Hezbollah group exchanged fire with Israel's military on the border with Lebanon, raising tension in the region as the Jewish state builds troops near Gaza in preparation for a possible ground operation.

Hezbollah, one of the Middle East's most powerful militias, said it hit an Israeli army post with guided missiles in response to the killing of some of its fighters earlier this week. In a statement broadcast on the group's Al-Manar television, it claimed the attack injured Israeli soldiers.

Later, Israel Defence Forces said they hit an observation post for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon with artillery fire. It said anti-tank missiles were fired at one of its northern military posts close to the Lebanese border. The Israeli post was adjacent to the community of Arab Al-Aramshe on the so-called Blue Line, the boundary set by UN peacekeepers stationed there.