The Israel-Lebanon Border.

An Israeli soldier was killed by a Lebanese Army sniper on the country’s border with Lebanon, Jonny Daniels, an external adviser to Israel’s Deputy Minister of Defense told The Algemeiner.

The sniper opened fire at an Israeli vehicle at the border, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier about the incident.

“One of the Lebanese soldiers shot 6 or 7 bullets towards an Israeli patrol… and hit and killed one of the Israeli soldiers,” Daniels said. “The army are investigating the motive for the attack.”

The Times of Israel reported that the IDF returned fire, and that “troops who witnessed the incident reportedly saw other Lebanese Armed Forces personnel converge on the gunman after he opened fire.”

While Arab media initially also reported that an Israeli soldier was killed in the attack, at first, Israeli officials would neither confirm nor deny the reports from both Lebanon’s Daily Star, and NOW news website citing Al-Jazeera television. Subsequently the IDF confirmed the death.

“The soldier was treated at the scene and was then evacuated to a hospital. He later died of his wounds,” the IDF said.

The Jewish Press reported that “according to Nahariyah Hospital director Dr. Masaad Barhom, an IDF soldier was brought unconscious to the hospital at around 8 PM, after his car had flipped. He had holes in his upper body that appear to be from gunfire or possibly shrapnel. The doctors were unable to save his life.”

The vehicle targeted by the sniper was travelling along the Israel-Lebanon border near the northern town of Rosh Hanikra, an Israeli spokesperson told The Algemeiner.

“An investigation of the incident is under way,” the IDF said.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said that “the IDF has protested this outrageous breach with UNIFIL and has heightened its state of preparedness along the border.”

“We will not tolerate aggression against the State of Israel, and maintain the right to exercise self defense against perpetrators of attacks against Israel and its civilians,” he added.

Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot cited a security source who said “The circumstances have yet to be determined, but this is serious.”