JERUSALEM, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Saturday fired toward three suspected Hezbollah militants on the border with Lebanon, the army said.

The three suspects attempted to approach the area where the Israeli army is destroying Hezbollah tunnels as part of the Operation Northern Shield which was launched at the beginning of this week, according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

According to the IDF, the three suspects tried to use the weather conditions as a cover to approach the Israeli forces.

"IDF troops fired toward the suspects in accordance with the standard operating procedures," said the Israeli army, adding that the three people fled.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone about the Israeli operation at its border with Lebanon, Israeli media reported.

During the phone talks, Putin emphasized the need to improve security coordination between Russia and Israel.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF said it launched the Operation Northern Shield to "expose and thwart" attack tunnels that cross from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, which were constructed by Lebanon's Hezbollah.