"The resistance is capable of responding to Israel's violations and provocations," said the Hezbollah chief for south Lebanon, Sheikh Nabil Qauq, referring to almost daily violations of Lebanese airspace.

Hezbollah said it fired anti-aircraft guns at Israeli planes earlier Sunday, in an action which left one dead and five wounded in the town of Shlomi, on Israel's side of the border.

Israel said Hezbollah fired 57mm artillery rounds in a deliberate attack on its territory. "This is a clear provocation by Hezbollah and Israel will not sit idly by," government spokesman Avi Pazner warned earlier.

"We want to stop Israeli planes from continuing to violate our sovereignty and make such violations costly for the Israeli military command," Qauq fired back.

He also defied Israeli and US protests, stressing the group's fighters would continue attacks in the Shebaa Farms area, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war but is claimed by Beirut with the consent of Damascus.

"Our last attack provoked the anger of the US administration ... which proves we are on the right track. We have never sought to please America and we will not do so," said the Hezbollah chief.

"Let America get angry and let Israel complain to whoever it wants."

The latest incident came two days after a first Hezbollah rocket attack in seven months on the Shebaa Farms areas fueled fears that Israel's northern front could flare up anew.

Israel lodged a complaint on Saturday with the UN Security Council against Syria's support for Hezbollah, while the United States has warned both Beirut and Damascus to restrain the militia.

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