Israel closely monitors Lebanon clashes

JERUSALEM, May 11 (UPI) -- A government official Sunday said Israel wasn't planning to interfere in clashes in Lebanon but was intently monitoring the situation.

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said Israel is braced for the possibility of tensions in Lebanon leading to a civil war, Haaretz reported.

"We shouldn't get involved. We need to watch and should follow this very closely even when we are dealing with other fronts," Vilnai said.

Fighting between Hezbollah insurgents and Western-backed government troops has claimed at least 38 lives in the past week.