BEIRUT, 14 May 2005 — Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanged barrages of shells and rockets across the Lebanese border yesterday and Israeli warplanes destroyed a series of Hezbollah positions in the heaviest clash in months between the two sides.
The exchange began when Hezbollah fighters fired a volley of shells and rockets at Israeli positions in the disputed border area of Shebaa Farms, witnesses said. Israeli forces rained artillery fire on the Lebanese village of Kfar Shouba. Witnesses counted at least 45 Israeli shells.
Israeli warplanes and helicopter gunships firing missile struck positions north and south of Kfar Shouba and a Hezbollah outpost about 300 meters across the border from the Israeli town of Metullah, witnesses and reporters in the area said.
An Israeli tank also fired at a Hezbollah observation post near the village of Rmeish, far from the combat near the Mediterranean coastline, they said.
There were no casualties from the Hezbollah fire, an Israeli military spokesman said. There was no immediate word on casualties on the Lebanese side.
The Israeli military said Hezbollah positions opened fire on Israeli outposts in the Shebaa Farms with nine shells or rockets. Israeli troops retaliated with artillery and anti-tank rockets, destroying one Hezbollah position, while airstrikes destroyed another three posts.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television said the attack was in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, including a hit on civilian houses in the village of Kfar Shouba.
