Israel shows restraint after latest rocket launch from Lebanon
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Israel responded with limited fire towards the source of a rocket launched from southern Lebanon on Tuesday night. It was the ninth reported attack on Israel from Lebanese territory since the end of fighting between Israel and the south-Lebanon-based Hezbollah in 2006.
Four additional Katyusha rockets were found on Wednesday close to Tuesday's launch site. The discovery was made by a joint tour of officers from the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, according to Lebanese and Israeli media reports.
Analysts are now wondering for how long Israel will show restraint in the face of these attacks for which no one claims responsibility.
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An Israeli soldier sits on a vehicle as he patrols the border with Lebanon near Kfarkila village in south Lebanon October 28, 2009. Lebanese army soldiers found and deactivated four rockets on Wednesday in the area from where a rocket had been fired towards northern Israel, witnesses said. [Xinhua] |
Attack condemned
Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora criticized the initial strike from Lebanon and Israel's immediate response, which was reported to have damaged a couple of nearby homes.
Israel lodged a formal complaint about the fire with the UN, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying "the IDF considers the Lebanese government and military responsible for the prevention of such attacks."
While no one claimed responsibility, the incident took place as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a report which included a demand that Hezbollah be stripped of its arms in accordance with UN resolutions.
"The threats posed by the existence of militias outside the control of the state, especially Hezbollah's vast paramilitary infrastructure, cannot be overstated," Ban said in the document.
Ban also condemned Israel's overflights of Lebanese airspace. Israel says such surveillance missions will continue as long as it feels there is a threat from Lebanese territory.
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Israeli soldiers patrol the border with Lebanon near Kfarkila village in south Lebanon October 28, 2009. Lebanese army soldiers found and deactivated four rockets on Wednesday in the area from where a rocket had been fired towards northern Israel, witnesses said.[Xinhua] |
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