An Israeli force on Wednesday crossed a "technical fence" between the southern border towns of Blida and Aytaroun without crossing the Blue Line, the state-run National News Agency said.

It said the 15-member force, backed up by Humvees and police dogs, conducted a 30-minute search of the site before heading back.

A joint force made up of the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers closely observed the action.

Crossing the technical fence, built by the Israelis in their territory, would not violate the border, but crossing the Blue Line would. The U.N. drew up the line when Israeli forces ended their 18-year occupation of a slice of southern Lebanon in 2000.