Three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian policeman have been killed in a rare border crossing incident. Details of the incident – the first of its kind in more than a decade – remain disputed.

The suspect was identified by the Israeli and Egyptian authorities as an Egyptian security officer. The deadly event may be connected to a thwarted drug smuggling attempt, the Israelis said.

Israel has returned to Egypt the body of an Egyptian policeman who shot dead three Israeli soldiers near the border between the two countries on Saturday. Media reports identified the policeman as Mohammed Salah,

An Egyptian security officer opened fire on Israeli soldiers on a routine patrol, killing two, and hours later killed a third before being felled in a shootout, the Israeli army said, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a “severe and extraordinary incident.

Israel said the Egyptian border guard crossed into Israel and killed the three soldiers before he was fatally shot by troops.

Three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian policeman were killed in a series of gun battles believed to be related to drug smuggling near the countries’ shared border.

Three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed near the countries' border on Saturday, Israel and Egypt said, in an incident whose details remained unclear.