Israelis Shoot 3 in Lebanon

JERUSALEM, 22 August 2006 — Israel yesterday said its troops shot and wounded three armed men in southern Lebanon where they have maintained positions ahead of a planned pullout.

“A force identified armed gunmen coming toward them in a threatening way,” an Israeli Army spokesman said. “The soldiers fired at them and identified three hits.”

Al-Arabiya television reported three Hezbollah fighters were killed in the clash and four Israeli soldiers were wounded.

But Hezbollah denied any of its fighters had been killed and the Israeli Army said none of its soldiers was wounded, adding that there had been no exchange of fire; shots were fired only by the Israelis.