Violence flares on Israel-Lebanon border
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Israel shelled southern Lebanon on Saturday after a rocket slammed into its territory in a tit-for-tat exchange of fire across their tense border, sources on both sides said.
Israeli rescue services said three people were injured when the rocket struck near the town of Maalot in the western Galilee region, triggering an immediate response from Israel.
"The Israeli army considers this a serious incident and believes it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and the army to prevent this rocket fire," an Israeli army spokesman said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denounced the violence, which caused panic on both sides of the border, while the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah denied any involvement.
"The Israeli shelling is an unacceptable and unjustified violation of Lebanese sovereignty," Siniora said in a statement.
"The rockets launched from Lebanon threaten the country's security and stability and constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
"The UNIFIL force commander Major General Claudio Graziano has been in contact with the senior commanders of the Lebanese and Israeli army with a view to ensuring that the cessation of hostilities is maintained," UNIFIL spokeswoman Yasmina Bouziane told AFP.
A Lebanese army spokesman said Israel fired eight artillery shells after two rockets were launched from a banana plantation near the village of El-Henniyeh, in the El-Qlayleh region about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border.
There were no reports of injuries in Lebanon.
One of the two rockets landed in Israel and the second apparently malfunctioned and landed in Lebanon, Bouziane said.
Panicked residents could be seen fleeing as Israel retaliated.
"My six-year-old girl was terrified," said Hassan Faqih, 49, as he headed to the nearby coastal town of Tyre with his wife and two children. "We will stay in Tyre if the situation escalates."
Israeli rescue services said three people were injured when the rocket struck near the town of Maalot in the western Galilee region, triggering an immediate response from Israel.
"The Israeli army considers this a serious incident and believes it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and the army to prevent this rocket fire," an Israeli army spokesman said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denounced the violence, which caused panic on both sides of the border, while the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah denied any involvement.
"The Israeli shelling is an unacceptable and unjustified violation of Lebanese sovereignty," Siniora said in a statement.
"The rockets launched from Lebanon threaten the country's security and stability and constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
"The UNIFIL force commander Major General Claudio Graziano has been in contact with the senior commanders of the Lebanese and Israeli army with a view to ensuring that the cessation of hostilities is maintained," UNIFIL spokeswoman Yasmina Bouziane told AFP.
A Lebanese army spokesman said Israel fired eight artillery shells after two rockets were launched from a banana plantation near the village of El-Henniyeh, in the El-Qlayleh region about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border.
There were no reports of injuries in Lebanon.
One of the two rockets landed in Israel and the second apparently malfunctioned and landed in Lebanon, Bouziane said.
Panicked residents could be seen fleeing as Israel retaliated.
"My six-year-old girl was terrified," said Hassan Faqih, 49, as he headed to the nearby coastal town of Tyre with his wife and two children. "We will stay in Tyre if the situation escalates."
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