Israeli tanks were deployed in the far northern border town of Metulla as rain came down near the heavily fortified border. Six people were killed on Monday - three Hezbollah members, an Israeli officer, and two Palestinian militants who touched off the violence by infiltrating Israel from Lebanon. A storm put many people in Lebanon on edge as thunder was mistaken for Israeli bombardment. Lebanon took years to rebuild from the 2006 war, during which Israeli bombardment pounded Hezbollah-controlled south Lebanon and destroyed wide areas of its stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Lebanon can ill-afford another big war with Israel, four years into a financial meltdown that has spread impoverishment and paralysed state institutions.

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Persons: Charbel Alam, Alam, Nazimiya, I'm, Jihad, Orel Sigon, we've, Bassam, Dan Williams, Ayhan, Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Hezbollah, Palestinian, Hamas, Lebanese, Islamic, Iran's, Guards, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, Metulla, Rmeish, Gaza, Kiryat Shmona, Beirut, Syria