Region | Palestinian Territories
Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel
Lebanon has strongly condemned the rocket attacks into Israel, saying it is committed to peace and stability.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:41 January 8, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- An Israeli firefighter looks at the damage made after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit a building in the northern Israeli coastal town of Nahariya
Occupied Jerusalem: Lebanon has strongly condemned the rocket attacks into Israel, saying it is committed to peace and stability.
At least three rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon on Thursday, prompting Israel to retaliate with mortar fire, officials said.
In a statement Thursday, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said the attack from south Lebanon was designed to undermine stability.
A Lebanese government official said authorities were actively pursuing the case, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The rockets struck the Israeli town of Nahariya, 8 kilometres south of the Lebanese border early on Thursday, police said. One person was slightly wounded, medics said.
Israel responded by launching mortar shells across the border. The brief clash threatens to open a second front for the Jewish state as it pushed ahead with its bloody offensive in Gaza.
Israeli defence officials said the military had been on alert for rocket attacks by Lebanon's Hezbollah militia since the intensified against Palestine.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Both Hezbollah and the Lebanon-arm of Hamas have denied any involvement in the attacks.
Israeli Cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit said the government had no interest in renewing hostilities with Hezbollah and suggested that small groups, not Hezbollah, were behind the attack.
"Even though we have the ability to respond with great force, the response needs to be carefully considered and responsible," Sheetrit told Army Radio. "We don't need to play into their hands."
Israeli defence commentators said they expected the incident to be a one-time show of solidarity with the Palestinians, not a declaration of war. Still, police said public bomb shelters throughout the north were opened.
At the same time as Thursday's northern barrage, six rockets from Gaza hit towns in southern Israel.
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