BEIRUT, (AFP) – Three Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist were killed and several Israeli soldiers wounded on Tuesday in clashes along the tense border, Lebanese security officials told AFP.

“Three Lebanese soldiers were killed in the clashes today, one journalist was killed and one civilian was wounded,” one official said.

“We also have reports of one Israeli soldier severely wounded.”

Another security official said several Israeli soldiers had been wounded and that Israel was using loudspeakers urging a ceasefire in order to remove casualties.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah TV, Al-Manar, reported that a top Israeli officer had been killed but there was no immediate confirmation from the Lebanese army or UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon.

Residents of the village of Adaysseh said shelling was continuing some two hours after the clashes broke out over Israeli attempt to uproot a tree on the Lebanese side of the fenced border.