| But the Shia movement has not confirmed local media reports that the
gunmen were its members. The attackers' motive remains unclear.
One of the pilots was killed and the helicopter was forced to crash-land.
The attack on the helicopter took place in an area of south Lebanon where Hezbollah is known to have a presence.
A leading Lebanese newspaper has said that Hezbollah gunmen mistakenly fired at the army helicopter.
The government has not yet commented on the incident.
A memorial service has been held for the officer killed in the
incident, Samer Hanna. He was due to be buried in his home town,
Tanoureen, later on Friday.
As part of the ceasefire deal that ended the 2006 war between
Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese army deployed in southern Lebanon
along with a strengthened United Nations peacekeeping force.
Hezbollah's continued deployment in southern Lebanon and its holding on to its weapons are highly controversial issues.
The movement is militarily far stronger than the Lebanese national army.
But a policy statement by Lebanon's national unity government
recognises Hezbollah's right to use all means possible to "liberate"
Lebanese land that Lebanon says is occupied by Israel.
| 
