Lebanese soldiers took up positions in the village of Shebaa, near the disputed enclave known as Shebaa Farms. The territory is claimed by Lebanon, but occupied by Israel, who says it actually belongs to Syria. Israel seized the area during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

So far the 2,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon has not been reinforced, although U.N. officials say they hope to send an advance force of 3,500 troops to Lebanon within two weeks. Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor says the longer the delay, the more chance for instability in southern Lebanon.

"This will give Hezbollah the chance to foment some instability and violence around the border and that is certainly not in anybody's interest," Palmor said.

Meanwhile, Israel says after a two-hour standoff its forces killed two Palestinian militants near the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday.