Israeli military says it opened fire near UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon

CAIRO (Reuters) - Israel's military said its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL base in the area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon after instructing U.N. forces in the area to remain in protected spaces on Thursday morning.

It said in a statement that Hezbollah fighters operate from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts.

The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured in an incident when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force's main headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, hitting the tower and causing them to fall. There were no casualties in two other incidents, a U.N. source said.

"The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL," the Israeli military added, using the acronym for Israel Defense Forces.

The conflict erupted one year ago when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. It has intensified dramatically in recent weeks, with Israel bombing Beirut's southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa Valley, before sending in ground forces.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray and Yomna Ehab; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Jonathan Oatis)