BEIRUT, 29 May 2006 — The Lebanese-Israeli border went ablaze yesterday following months of calm as Israeli artillery heavily bombarded several southern Lebanese villages and exchanged fire with Hezbollah resulting in the death of one of the resistance’s fighters and several injuries among civilians.
Israeli warplanes also hit several bases run by pro-Syrian Palestinian factions around Lebanon, killing at least two Palestinians and injuring several others.
Commenting on the aggression, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora blamed the Israeli occupation of Lebanese land, and said it was the origin of the problem.
The new escalation of violence came a few hours after rockets fired by Islamic Jihad from Lebanon into northern Israel wounded an Israeli soldier.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that Israel would hit back hard “if guerrillas in Lebanon continue firing on Israel’s north.” Olmert said he hoped Israel’s initial response would bring an end to the attacks from Lebanon.
UN peacekeepers later brokered a cease-fire that appeared to be taking hold. “We are in contact with both sides. We brokered a cease-fire and we hope this agreement will take hold,” Milos Strugar, senior adviser to UNIFIL said.
