An arms cache exploded in a village in southern Lebanon on Tuesday in an area considered to be a Hezbollah stronghold, an army spokesman told selfnews, adding that no casualties were reported. Local television reported the depot contained rockets, automatic weapons and ammunition belonging to the Shiite militant group. 'The blast occurred in an abandoned house in the village of Khirbet Selm,' 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border with Israel, the spokesman said. Along with much of the south, the village is considered to be Hezbollah country. The Lebanese army cordoned off the area and did not allow reporters access to the site. The army launched an investigation into the blast in cooperation with United Nations peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon. 'This weapons depot dates back to the July War,' the army spokesman told selfnews on condition of anonymity. 'There was no one but Hezbollah in this area.' UN reports on the implementation of Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 34-day war in July and August 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel, regularly express concern over the continued presence of Hezbollah arms in south Lebanon. The conflict began after the militants captured two Israeli soldiers in a deadly cross-border raid. It destroyed much of Lebanon's major infrastructure and killed close to 1,200 Lebanese, mainly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mainly soldiers. Hezbollah has refused to disarm although UN Security Council Resolution 1701 reaffirms the need for militias in Lebanon to turn in their weapons. Hezbollah argues that its arsenal is needed to defend the country against Israel. Lebanese soldiers deployed in south Lebanon in the wake of the 2006 war for the first time in 30 years. 