UN force in Lebanon trying to restore peace between Israeli troops and Hezbollah

The United Nations force monitoring the ceasefire in the area between Israel and Lebanon is trying to re-establish the truce after an exchange of fire between Hezbollah militia and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) broke out today in the Shab'a Farms area, a UN spokesman said.

"The hostile activity began in the late afternoon, local time, and is ongoing, with an IDF air raid into the vicinity of Shab'a reported in the last half hour," Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the mid-day UN Headquarters briefing. "There are conflicting indications and claims from both sides as to who commenced fire."

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is in contact with the two sides to restore the ceasefire and ascertain the facts, he said.