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.

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 but which the countries said they were investigating jointly.

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

Israel said the Egyptian border guard crossed into Israel and killed the three soldiers before he was fatally shot by troops. Egypt said he had been chasing drug smugglers when he entered Israel.

Three Israeli soldiers and a member of Egyptian security forces were killed early on Saturday in a shootout along the border between Israel and Egypt, according to the two countries'' military statements.

Israel’s military says a gunbattle involving an Egyptian police officer in southern Israel along the Egyptian border has left three soldiers dead