A senior US Congresswoman is blocking funding to the Lebanese military following its attack on Israeli soldiers last week.

"This incident was tragic and entirely avoidable. US assistance is intended to enhance our safety and that of our allies," Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) said Monday.

Lowey chairs the House appropriations subcommittee that handles foreign aid and needs to authorize such funds. The $100 million in Lebanese military assistance approved for 2010 has yet to be disbursed, giving Lowey a window to put a hold on the funding for the immediate future.

Lowey is looking to find out more about the nature of what she termed an "outrageous incident" as well as watching how Lebanon responds in the wake of the violence.

"These holds are typically dependent on the actions and rhetoric coming out of the relevant nations," a Democratic aide noted.

Last Tuesday, Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers shot at Israeli officers who were clearing brush along the northern border, killing one and seriously wounding another. The IDF returned fire, killing two soldiers and a journalist.

A State Department official said that the US is still trying to ascertain the facts regarding the incident, including whether there's any truth behind reports that the LAF troops used American-issued guns.

"We consistently review all of our security assistance programs to all receiving countries," the official said. "Ultimately, we continue to believe that our support to the LAF and ISF [Internal Security Forces] will contribute toward improving regional security."...