Feb. 7, 2007 13:38 | Updated Feb. 8, 2007 0:51 Lebanese troops open fire on IDF units near northern border By YAAKOV KATZ

For the first time since the Lebanon war last summer clashes broke out between IDF troops and Lebanese soldiers Wednesday night.

According to initial reports, Lebanese troops opened fire with machine guns at IDF soldiers searching for bombs inside Israeli territory, along the Lebanese border.

The troops returned fire with two tank rounds, apparently wounding several Lebanese soldiers after hitting their position.

Following the incident, Defense Minister Amir Peretz held consultations with active Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen. Dan Halutz and other top officers.

Earlier Wednesday, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) had been threatening to open fire on IDF troops operating near the border.

IDF troops from Engineering Battalion 603 were searching an area along the Israeli-Lebanon border, north of the Israeli community of Avivim, for explosive devices. On Monday, five bombs were discovered and detonated by soldiers and the IDF said it believed Hizbullah had been planted along the border in recent days.