JERUSALEM, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief said on Tuesday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is closely monitoring the situation along the border with Lebanon but no eruption of hostilities is expected on this front, local daily Ha'aretz reported.

    Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi made the remarks during a visit to the IDF's main induction center.

    "At the moment, there is quiet all along the border," Ashkenazi was quoted as telling recruits of the Kfir infantry brigade, "there was an incident which to our understanding was an explosion of a weapon cache belonging to Hezbollah, which is being handled by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese government."

    "We view the event with gravity, but we do not anticipate a disruption of quiet in the area," said the Israeli army chief.

    Israeli officials have recently expressed apprehension over events in southern Lebanon which suggest that Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite armed group with whom Israel fought a war in the summer of 2006, is seeking to provoke another round of conflict.

    On Monday, Israeli officials said that they believe Hezbollah will try to escalate the tension on the border by organizing civilian demonstrations and protests in the Har Dov region along Israel's border with Lebanon, as it did about a week ago, as part of an effort to launch a popular uprising against Israel.

    Israel has warned Beirut through the United Nations that it would be held responsible for any hostile action launched from Lebanese territory, according to Ha'aretz.

Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts