Spain blames Israel for death of peacekeeper in military's flare-up with Hezbollah

UNITED NATIONS – Spain's ambassador to the United Nations is blaming Israel for the death of a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper during the Israeli military's exchange of fire with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group in a disputed border area.

"It was because of this escalation of violence, and it came from the Israeli side," Spanish Ambassador Roman Oyarzun Marchesi told reporters.

The U.N. peacekeeper has been identified as Cpl. Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, 36, and U.N. officials have said only that the cause of his death is under investigation.

The Security Council condemned the peacekeeper's death in the strongest terms and offered its deepest sympathies.