The Israeli soldiers were surrounded by Hezbollah guerillas near a town on the Lebanese side of the border, said the report, without revealing further information.

Earlier, al-Jazeera reported that three Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerillas in south Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed shooting down an Israeli military helicopter in the border area.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side. Israeli forces started an incursion into south Lebanon earlier on Thursday and clashed against Hezbollah guerillas.