Germany said on Sunday its navy, which is patrolling the Lebanese coast as part of an international peacekeeping force, had been involved in a second incident involving Israeli fighter planes.

The Defence Ministry said it occurred on Thursday and involved a German navy helicopter and Israeli F-16 fighters.

"We are aware of the episode, but it was not menacing," the spokesman said, after the Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported the Israeli planes had "dangerously badgered" the helicopter.

The spokesman said the area was used by the Israeli air force for training, adding: "Perhaps other standards apply for them than for us."

On Wednesday, Israel denied a German newspaper report that two of its air force planes had fired twice as they flew over a German navy ship patrolling the Lebanon coast. But it did say jets had been scrambled when a helicopter took off from a German aircraft carrier without identifying itself.

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