JERUSALEM — The Israeli army said today that it has transferred control over a portion of the Israel-Lebanon border to Lebanese and international troops for the first time in two decades.

At the time of the cease-fire two weeks ago, which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas, Israeli troops occupied a security zone nine miles inside of Lebanon. It has been slowly transferring control of the region to arriving Lebanese and U.N. troops since then.

On Wednesday, the army gave up control of a small area of the border near the Israeli border town of Metulla, the army said. Israeli soldiers still patrolled other parts of the border.

The army did not say how many of its troops remained in Lebanon, but said it has evacuated more than two-thirds of the area south of the Litani.

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began July 12 when Hezbollah guerrillas crossed into Israel and attacked an army patrol, killing three soldiers and capturing two others. Israel has rejected calls for a prisoner swap to secure their freedom.