The Israeli military on Monday began building a wall that will run several kilometres (miles) along part of its border with Lebanon, a military spokeswoman told AFP.

"This construction, which began on Monday, is being carried out in coordination with UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and the Lebanese army. The wall is intended to avoid frictions on the border," she said.

Israeli public radio said the wall would be several metres high and intended to protect the Israeli border town of Metulla from fire coming from the Lebanese side. It is expected to take several weeks to build.

Israel´s military announced the project in January, saying it would protect recently-constructed apartment blocks in Metulla from sniper fire coming from the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila.

Israel and Lebanon are technically at war but military officers from the two sides meet regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL to coordinate security along their joint border.

Israel fought a devastating war against Lebanon´s Hezbollah movement in 2006, which cost the lives of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers. (Copyright © 2012 Agence France Presse. 04/30/12)