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U.S. urges calm after latest deadly exchange of fire between Israel, Hezbollah

Xinhua, January 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Wednesday called for calm after an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel along Lebanese border left two Israeli soldiers and a UN peacekeeper dead.

"We certainly encourage all parties to respect the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon. We urge all parties to refrain from any action that could escalate the situation," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki at the regular briefing.

While stressing that Israel has the right to defend itself, Psaki called for calm from both sides.

"But again, in this situation and any where there's tensions back and forth, our preference is that all sides refrain from activities that would increase volatility."

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and several others wounded Wednesday when Hezbollah fired missiles at an Israeli military convoy along the frontier with Lebanon.

Hezbollah, who had vowed to retaliate after an Israeli air strike on the Syrian part of the Golan Heights killed six Hezbollah fighters on Jan. 18, claimed responsibility shortly after the attack.

Later on Wednesday, Israeli forces responded with air strikes and artillery fire on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. During the attack, one Spanish peacekeeper serving on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed. UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said the peacekeeper's death was under investigation.

Hezbollah, which largely controls southern Lebanon, and Israel fought a one-month war in 2006, and the two have remained sworn enemies ever since. Endite