BEIRUT, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army arrested Thursday a U.S. citizen who has entered southern Lebanon from Israel, a statement released by the Lebanese army reported.

"After continuous search, the Lebanese army found the U.S. citizen Colin Emery in Tyre, southern Lebanon and he was referred to the judicial bodies for further investigations," said the statement.

The statement added that Emery was arrested after entering Lebanon on Jan. 15 from occupied Palestinian territories.

On Tuesday, reports said that a man wearing an Israeli army uniform had entered Ayta Shaab in Bint Jbeil.

The suspect ran away after throwing a box containing papers written in Hebrew.