BEIRUT, 18 June 2007 — The Lebanese prime minister said a rocket attack on Israel was geared at undermining the stability of Lebanon and vowed to catch and prosecute perpetrators as the UN condemned yesterday’s incident as a serious violation to a cease-fire that ended a war last year. Two rockets fired from Lebanon landed yesterday in northern Israel, causing damage but no casualties. The Lebanese Army said three rockets were fired altogether and that troops sent to search the suspected launching area next to the Israeli border found a fourth one equipped with a timer.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the attack had “political goals” and aimed at destabilizing Lebanon by casting doubts about the ability of the army and the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon to protect the border zone. He vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“The state... will spare no effort in uncovering those who stand behind this incident, which is aimed at attempting to undermine the stability” of Lebanon, Siniora said in a statement.
The Lebanese Army said in a statement that three 107 millimeter Katyusha rockets were fired at Israel by “unknown elements” and that a search was under way to find the attackers.
Hezbollah, the main armed group in Lebanon that fought the Israelis last year, denied any involvement. “Hezbollah denies being involved in any operation to launch missiles today against occupied Palestine,” said a flash script on Al-Manar television.
The UN peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon urged the parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent an escalation. “Today’s rocket attack from south Lebanon is considered a serious violation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and serious breach of cessation of hostilities agreement,” said Yasmina Bouziane, a spokeswoman for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
It was the first time rockets were fired from Lebanese territory at the Jewish state since last summer’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, when almost 4,000 rockets were fired at Israel and the Israeli Army retaliated with artillery and missile fire that destroyed bridges, roads and buildings throughout Lebanon.
Israel’s Channel 2 TV said two rockets struck the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona yesterday, hitting a factory and a car but causing no injuries. An Israeli official said Israel would “not succumb to this provocation” by retaliating.
There have been instances in the past — before last year’s war — when rockets were mysteriously fired on Israel. These were blamed by Lebanese officials on radical Palestinian factions, and in one instance claimed by Al-Qaeda.
