Hizbollah, Israeli forces clash in border area

The fighting in the disputed Shebaa Farms strip comes as Lebanon prepares to hold its first general election without a Syrian military presence for 33 years.

There were no reports of casualties on either side in the fighting, which abated less than two hours after it had begun.

Israeli aircraft and artillery struck the outskirts of Lebanese border villages near the Shebaa Farms, and further west near the towns of Khiam and Rmeish, some distance from the disputed strip, Lebanese security sources said.

The United States said it was "deeply concerned" and urged both sides to immediately end the fighting.

"This opportunity for reaffirming democracy in Lebanon must not be undermined by militias pursuing their own agendas," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters, referring to Syrian-backed Hizbollah, which also has a bloc in parliament.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the exchange of fire, the third border violation in recent days, "a worrisome escalation" and reminded both sides "one violation cannot justify another," chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said.