3 Rockets from Lebanon Hit North Israel, Drawing Retaliatory Fire

At least three rockets were fired Sunday from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, drawing retaliatory fire, several hours after Hizbullah accused Israel of assassinating its top militant Samir al-Quntar in a Syria air raid.

Two Katyusha-type rockets were fired from south Lebanon into Israel on Sunday, a Lebanese security source told AFP, and in Israel the army said rockets had hit the north.

"Two Katyusha rockets were fired from a Lebanese village five kilometers from the border with Israel," the Lebanese source said.

A statement from Israel's military suggested that three rockets were fired.

"Sirens sounded in northern Israel. Initial report suggests three rockets hit northern Israel. Forces are searching the area," it said.

A red alert siren in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya and its surroundings preceded the rockets, according to the website of Israel's Jerusalem Post newspaper.

"There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, yet local residents reported hearing sounds of the blast nearby," the newspaper said.

Across the heavily militarized frontier, troops from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army were searching for the firing point, the Lebanese source said.

"UNIFIL is conducting contacts to prevent any escalation on the border," Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said.

Later on Sunday, Israeli retaliated by firing nine shells at southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces "have responded with targeted artillery fire following the rockets that hit Israel earlier today from southern Lebanon," an English-language Israeli army statement said.

Lebanon's National News agency said seven artillery shells hit the Wadi al-Nafkha area in the western sector, south of the city of Tyre, as two others landed in the Wadi Zebqin area.

No casualties were reported.

"Israeli warplanes are staging mock raids over Nabatiyeh and Iqlim al-Tuffah," NNA reported earlier.

Media reports said Israeli warplanes were heard flying over the capital Beirut and along the Lebanese coast.

The Israeli army said that it sees "the Lebanese army as responsible for activities in Lebanon and will continue to act against any attempt to harm Israeli sovereignty and the security of its citizens."

The Israeli army added that, at this point, there was no change in safety instructions for residents of northern Israel.

Media reports had said that Israeli authorities have opened bomb shelters in the North.

MTV said several Katyusha rockets were fired from the al-Mansouri and al-Qlayleh areas in southern Lebanon.

Voice of Lebanon radio said two rockets were fired from the al-Hinniyeh area as two others were fired from the Tal al-Maaliyeh region.

Al-Jadeed television said "three rockets were fired at Israel from an area near the Ras al-Ain landfill south of Tyre."

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, four rockets were fired at Israel from the al-Qlayleh plain.

MTV meanwhile said "flares were fired over al-Mansouri and the al-Qlayleh plain in the South amid intensive overflights by Israeli warplanes."

In the wake of the rocket fire, the Lebanese army took security measures along the southern coastal highway from Ras al-Ain to Naqoura, NNA said.

Israeli media outlets said Israel's security cabinet will convene to discuss the developments after the rockets incident.

Earlier in the day, Lebanon's National News Agency said a state of cautious calm was engulfing the Lebanese-Israeli border area in the wake of the news of Quntar's assassination.

The Israeli army “raised the preparedness of its forces to the highest level and moved its patrols away from the border fence in anticipation of any military developments,” NNA said.

Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will make a televised address tomorrow, Monday at 8:30 pm, Hizbullah's al-Manar TV reported on Sunday.

The announcement came a few hours after Hizbullah accused Israel of assassinating al-Quntar in an airstrike near Damascus and Nasrallah is expected to comment on the development.

Hizbullah legislator Ali Ammar vowed Sunday that Quntar's death will not go unpunished, adding that Hizbullah's military commanders will decide how to avenge the killing.

Y.R.