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Lebanon, Israel exchange rocket attacks
(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-12 17:14
BEIRUT: At least two Katyusha rockets were fired from southern Lebanon and hit northern Israel on Friday afternoon, while Israel responded with artillery to the area where the rockets were originated. The two rockets were fired from general area of Klaileh, a village 15 km from the southern Lebanon's border, at around 3:45 pm local time (1245 GMT) and impacted in northern Israel in the area north of Nahariya. The Israeli Army retaliated with artillery fire aimed at the area from which the rocket fires originated, and the firing stopped shortly thereafter. Lebanese official National News Agency(NNA) reported Israel fired 14 shells. The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement that it has no report of casualties. UNIFIL is now in contact with both sides, urging them to exercise maximum restraint, uphold the cessation of hostilities and avoid taking steps which would lead to further escalation. In the meantime, UNIFIL, in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, has deployed additional troops and reaction force in the area. The NNA reported tranquility in southern Lebanon was quickly restored, except for Israeli warplanes flying over border villages, and strict security procedures overtaken by the UNIFIL across the coastline in southern Lebanon.
UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns the firing of at least two rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon, urging all parties to exercise restraint. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said after the incident that it is dangerous and sternly refused. He also underlined Lebanon's commitment to fully implementing UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah in the summer of 2006. In accordance with the Resolution 1701, UNIFIL was reinforced to more than 13,000 troops in this war-torn area to prevent further hostilities. The resolution also prohibits any unauthorized arms in UNIFIL's area of operations. Tensions remained after the 2006 war in the two countries' border areas. In February, Israeli artillery bombarded Klaileh in response to similar rocket fire. There were no casualties on the Lebanese side, and a few Israelis were lightly wounded. The two countries shared bloody relations in history, as Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and withdrew its troops out of it after 18years in 2000, followed by the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. UNIFIL spokesperson Yasmina Bouziane said UNIFIL immediately launched an investigation into this incident. In the initial investigation into the incident, UNIFIL have found a wooden platform which was used to launch the rockets, as well as a battery, in an orchard at the outskirts of Klaileh village in Tyre. Israel accused Hezbollah of stockpiling rockets in southern Lebanon and putting big threats to its territory, following an ammunition depot blast on July 14 in a village in southern Lebanon, which Israel and UNIFIL viewed as a serious violation of Resolution 1701. However, both Lebanese government and Hezbollah officials denied Israel's accusation. Bouziane refused to comment on whether there are some links between the blast and Friday's rockets attack to Israel, saying that the investigation is still ongoing. |
