BEIRUT, April 26, 2007 (AFP) - An Israeli patrol crossed into southern Lebanon on Thursday and was forced to end its "violation" after the intervention of UN peacekeepers, the Lebanese army said.

"Today, a 10-member Israeli enemy patrol crossed the electronic fence on the Saddani hills, between the towns of Kfarshuba and Shebaa," a statement said, claiming the troops "entered Lebanese territory between 50 meters and 100 meters (yards)."

"Army troops in the area went immediately on alert, and a unit from the UN Interim Force (in Lebanon) intervened and forced the enemy patrol to withdraw toward the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms," it said.

"A UNIFIL committee started to probe and document the extent of this violation," said the statement, adding that "a Lebanese army force took up position in the area" where the Israelis had entered Lebanon.

Asked about the incident, a UNIFIL officer told AFP "UNIFIL sent technical experts to acertain the facts" and had "sent reinforcements to that area to prevent any escalation."

In February, Lebanese and Israeli troops exchanged fire across the border for the first time in decades, in an incident sparked by Israeli sappers moving towards the border to clear unexploded ordnance.

Backed by a beefed up UN force, Lebanese troops moved into the border area for the first time in decades after the end of Israel's war with the Lebanese Shiite Muslim Hezbollah last summer.

The 34-day conflict was sparked by the capture of two Israeli soldiers in a Hezbollah raid across the border.

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