29 dec 2013
|
|
For first time in four months, rocket from Lebanon smash into north; no injuries or damage reported. Meanwhile, IDF confirms retaliatory attacks. PM: 'We see the Lebanese government as responsible for attacks launched for within their borders'
A rocket launched in Lebanon exploded in Israel Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed it retaliated with heavy artillery fire towards the launch site in Lebanon. UNIFIL urged both sides to show restraint. The Katyusha rocket exploded just west of Kiryat Shmona. The IDF confirmed the incident and added that it "responded with artillery fire towards the source of the launch". Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld |
says there were no injuries and no damage caused from Sunday's rocket fire.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit addressed the situation in the north of the country in a statement: "There were five launches identified from the source of the rockets and it appears there was one landing west of Kiryat Shmona. The IDF responded with a massive barrage of dozens of artillery shells towards the launch site."
"Severe messages were sent through the UN force, UNIFIL," said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit statement.The UN peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, have reached out to the Lebanese army and the IDF, to urge the two parties show restraint in the wake of the Katyusha attack, Lebanese media outlets claimed Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident, saying: "We see the Lebanese government as responsible for attacks launched for within its border.
"What is happening in Lebanon is that Hezbollah is placing thousands of missiles and rockets in apartments and is committing two war crimes at the same time. In the first it threatens to launch (the rockets) on civilians and in the second it hides behind the civilian population, it's a double war crime committed under the watch of the Lebanese government," added Netanyahu.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon commented on Sunday morning's rocket fire, and said "We will not tolerate fire from Lebanon, we will not allow anyone to disrupt the lives of Israeli citizens. We see Lebanon's government and Armed Forces as responsible for this mornings attack. "We will not return to business as usual. If needed, the IDF will respond with a force much stronger than our massive response this morning," the defense minister said.
Hezbollah affilated media outlets said the rockets landed along the Lebanese-Israeli border, and LBC reported that the IDF responded by firing mortar rounds at the Lebanese border villages of Al-Marea and Rashaya al-Fakhar.
Lebanese media outlets reported either one or two rocket failed to make it into Israel and landed in the southern town of Sarda, near the border with Israel and the Lebanese news website El Nashra said that Lebanese security forces were called to the scene.
Lebanon's state National News Agency reported that area villages were "heavily hit by Israeli mortar fire." Israel claims it only fired three shells at Lebanon.
Nissim Malka, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, addressed the attack: "The hits were visible, causing a bit of panic from residents. I am in constant contact with the IDF. But we are operating as usual, we are not planning on opening up bomb shelters and the schools will continue working as normal."
He added, "I will convene an emergency session and we will consider what steps to take according to the report received from the IDF."
Earlier Sunday, 2 explosions were heard in the area of Kiryat Shmona. After investigating the possibility it was a rocket landing, the IDF confirmed that this was the case. There were no casualties, and the warning siren did not go off.
Hezbollah tensions At the begining of December, Hassan al-Laqqis, a senior Hezbollah operative, was assassinated in Beirut’s Hadath suburb after unknown gunmen opened fire on him while he was entering his vehicle. Though no further details have been confirmed, Hezbollah and Iran pointed a blaming finger at Israel.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied any Israeli involvement in the killing of the head of Hezbollah's technology and communications unit.
"Israel has nothing to do with this incident," Palmor said. "These automatic accusations are an innate reflex with Hezbollah. They don't need evidence, they don't need facts, they just blame anything on Israel."
Hezbollah said that Israel "must assume full responsibility and all consequences of this despicable crime," in regards to the assassination of one of its commanders, Hassan al-Laqqis. ""The direct indictment is naturally directed against the Israeli enemy who tried to eliminate our martyred brother several times in several places, but the attempts failed until last night," the statement said.
In the years since the 2006 Second Lebanon War there have been a number of incidents along the northern border. Only a few weeks ago, an IDF soldier was killed by a rouge Lebanese army sniper. .
The last rocket incident took place four months ago: Sirens were sounded in the Western Galilee region after four Katyusha rockets were fired at Israel from the Tyre area in Lebanon. Two of the rockets landed in Israeli communities. In response, an Iron Dome battery was placed in the region.
Israeli shells hit southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s Al-Manar satellite television says several artillery shells fired by the Israeli military have hit southern areas of the country.
Several border areas in southern Lebanon including Kfar Shouba, Rashia and al-Marea were hit on Sunday, the channel stated.
The shelling took place after the Tel Aviv regime claimed that two Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon had landed in the town of Kyriat Shmona near the Lebanese border. No injuries or damage were reported.
The Israeli military has confirmed that its tanks fired nearly two dozen shells into several border areas of Lebanon.
UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said they were in contact with both sides to contain the situation.
The area has remained mostly quiet since a month-long war in 2006 between the Israeli regime and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit addressed the situation in the north of the country in a statement: "There were five launches identified from the source of the rockets and it appears there was one landing west of Kiryat Shmona. The IDF responded with a massive barrage of dozens of artillery shells towards the launch site."
"Severe messages were sent through the UN force, UNIFIL," said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit statement.The UN peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, have reached out to the Lebanese army and the IDF, to urge the two parties show restraint in the wake of the Katyusha attack, Lebanese media outlets claimed Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident, saying: "We see the Lebanese government as responsible for attacks launched for within its border.
"What is happening in Lebanon is that Hezbollah is placing thousands of missiles and rockets in apartments and is committing two war crimes at the same time. In the first it threatens to launch (the rockets) on civilians and in the second it hides behind the civilian population, it's a double war crime committed under the watch of the Lebanese government," added Netanyahu.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon commented on Sunday morning's rocket fire, and said "We will not tolerate fire from Lebanon, we will not allow anyone to disrupt the lives of Israeli citizens. We see Lebanon's government and Armed Forces as responsible for this mornings attack. "We will not return to business as usual. If needed, the IDF will respond with a force much stronger than our massive response this morning," the defense minister said.
Hezbollah affilated media outlets said the rockets landed along the Lebanese-Israeli border, and LBC reported that the IDF responded by firing mortar rounds at the Lebanese border villages of Al-Marea and Rashaya al-Fakhar.
Lebanese media outlets reported either one or two rocket failed to make it into Israel and landed in the southern town of Sarda, near the border with Israel and the Lebanese news website El Nashra said that Lebanese security forces were called to the scene.
Lebanon's state National News Agency reported that area villages were "heavily hit by Israeli mortar fire." Israel claims it only fired three shells at Lebanon.
Nissim Malka, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, addressed the attack: "The hits were visible, causing a bit of panic from residents. I am in constant contact with the IDF. But we are operating as usual, we are not planning on opening up bomb shelters and the schools will continue working as normal."
He added, "I will convene an emergency session and we will consider what steps to take according to the report received from the IDF."
Earlier Sunday, 2 explosions were heard in the area of Kiryat Shmona. After investigating the possibility it was a rocket landing, the IDF confirmed that this was the case. There were no casualties, and the warning siren did not go off.
Hezbollah tensions At the begining of December, Hassan al-Laqqis, a senior Hezbollah operative, was assassinated in Beirut’s Hadath suburb after unknown gunmen opened fire on him while he was entering his vehicle. Though no further details have been confirmed, Hezbollah and Iran pointed a blaming finger at Israel.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied any Israeli involvement in the killing of the head of Hezbollah's technology and communications unit.
"Israel has nothing to do with this incident," Palmor said. "These automatic accusations are an innate reflex with Hezbollah. They don't need evidence, they don't need facts, they just blame anything on Israel."
Hezbollah said that Israel "must assume full responsibility and all consequences of this despicable crime," in regards to the assassination of one of its commanders, Hassan al-Laqqis. ""The direct indictment is naturally directed against the Israeli enemy who tried to eliminate our martyred brother several times in several places, but the attempts failed until last night," the statement said.
In the years since the 2006 Second Lebanon War there have been a number of incidents along the northern border. Only a few weeks ago, an IDF soldier was killed by a rouge Lebanese army sniper. .
The last rocket incident took place four months ago: Sirens were sounded in the Western Galilee region after four Katyusha rockets were fired at Israel from the Tyre area in Lebanon. Two of the rockets landed in Israeli communities. In response, an Iron Dome battery was placed in the region.
Israeli shells hit southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s Al-Manar satellite television says several artillery shells fired by the Israeli military have hit southern areas of the country.
Several border areas in southern Lebanon including Kfar Shouba, Rashia and al-Marea were hit on Sunday, the channel stated.
The shelling took place after the Tel Aviv regime claimed that two Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon had landed in the town of Kyriat Shmona near the Lebanese border. No injuries or damage were reported.
The Israeli military has confirmed that its tanks fired nearly two dozen shells into several border areas of Lebanon.
UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said they were in contact with both sides to contain the situation.
The area has remained mostly quiet since a month-long war in 2006 between the Israeli regime and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.
23 dec 2013
|
|
Lebanon army commander has warned that the country’s military will respond to any Israeli aggression, stressing that the Lebanese army is fully ready to counter any attack.
"The army shall not yield to any threat. It shall not remain silent on any attack," General Jean Qahwaji said as he visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on Monday. Qahwaji said the Lebanese military is committed to the implementation of all United Nations Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 1701. "The Lebanese army is keen on stability in the south and committed to clinching security there in collaboration with the United Nations Interim |
Force in Lebanon (UNIFL)," the General said.
The resolution, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, demanded the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from south Lebanon.
The general also pointed to the repetitive Israeli violations of the Security Council's resolution, "while Lebanon does abide by the decisions of the international legitimacy."
Earlier this month, Lebanon’s south was the scene of deadly clashes between Israeli and Lebanese forces. The ensuing tensions prompted the Security Council to call for calm and restraint by both sides.
Osn December 16, Israeli military said its forces opened fire on two Lebanese soldiers and hit at least one of them across the Lebanese border in the Ras al-Naqoura area.
The shooting incident took place hours after an Israeli soldier trying to enter Lebanon was shot dead by a sniper.
The resolution, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, demanded the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from south Lebanon.
The general also pointed to the repetitive Israeli violations of the Security Council's resolution, "while Lebanon does abide by the decisions of the international legitimacy."
Earlier this month, Lebanon’s south was the scene of deadly clashes between Israeli and Lebanese forces. The ensuing tensions prompted the Security Council to call for calm and restraint by both sides.
Osn December 16, Israeli military said its forces opened fire on two Lebanese soldiers and hit at least one of them across the Lebanese border in the Ras al-Naqoura area.
The shooting incident took place hours after an Israeli soldier trying to enter Lebanon was shot dead by a sniper.
22 dec 2013
Lebanon’s caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour
Lebanon has warned against a potential Israeli measure to demarcate maritime borders, saying the move would threaten peace and stability in the region.
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour made the remarks on Saturday following reports that Tel Aviv was seeking to “impose maritime border realities” with Lebanon through a draft law that will be proposed in the Israeli parliament, Knesset.
Mansour said, “This is a very dangerous decision if adopted by Israel, and it threatens stability, security and peace in the region.”
“Lebanon would be under no obligations and would consider as null any unilateral step taken by Israel to demarcate the maritime borders.”
Mansour also stated that the Israeli measure would “represent a blatant violation to international law, particularly the United Nations maritime agreement of 1982.”
Lebanon and the Israeli regime claim a disputed maritime area in the Mediterranean Sea as part of their respective Exclusive Economic Zones.
The 854-square-kilometer holds large reserves of natural gas that could generate billions of dollars in the future.
Mansour added that Beirut considers any Israeli measure to demarcate the maritime borders “as an aggressive act” and “an act of piracy to the Lebanon oil and gas wealth that would lead to dangerous repercussions to the security, stability and peace in a place where tensions are already elevated.”
“Israel will bear full responsibility for any repercussions from such a move,” he said.
The minister urged all political parties to “fill the present void in the government” to respond to “this new aggression and confront and resist it will all legal means.”
In July, Lebanese caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said Israel has discovered a new offshore gas field near his country’s territorial waters, which allows Tel Aviv to tap into Lebanon’s oil deposits.
Lebanon has warned against a potential Israeli measure to demarcate maritime borders, saying the move would threaten peace and stability in the region.
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour made the remarks on Saturday following reports that Tel Aviv was seeking to “impose maritime border realities” with Lebanon through a draft law that will be proposed in the Israeli parliament, Knesset.
Mansour said, “This is a very dangerous decision if adopted by Israel, and it threatens stability, security and peace in the region.”
“Lebanon would be under no obligations and would consider as null any unilateral step taken by Israel to demarcate the maritime borders.”
Mansour also stated that the Israeli measure would “represent a blatant violation to international law, particularly the United Nations maritime agreement of 1982.”
Lebanon and the Israeli regime claim a disputed maritime area in the Mediterranean Sea as part of their respective Exclusive Economic Zones.
The 854-square-kilometer holds large reserves of natural gas that could generate billions of dollars in the future.
Mansour added that Beirut considers any Israeli measure to demarcate the maritime borders “as an aggressive act” and “an act of piracy to the Lebanon oil and gas wealth that would lead to dangerous repercussions to the security, stability and peace in a place where tensions are already elevated.”
“Israel will bear full responsibility for any repercussions from such a move,” he said.
The minister urged all political parties to “fill the present void in the government” to respond to “this new aggression and confront and resist it will all legal means.”
In July, Lebanese caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said Israel has discovered a new offshore gas field near his country’s territorial waters, which allows Tel Aviv to tap into Lebanon’s oil deposits.
20 dec 2013
Mourners carry the coffin of Hassan Hawlo al-Lakiss during his funeral in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek on Dec. 4, 2013
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Friday that his Lebanese Shiite movement will "punish" Israel for the killing of a top leader earlier this month.
"The killers will be punished sooner or later ... Those who killed our brothers will not know safety anywhere in the world," he said in a televised tribute to Hassan al-Lakiss, whose killing Hezbollah blamed on Israel despite its denials.
"We and the Israelis have accounts that need settling. There are old and new debts between us," said Nasrallah.
Lakiss's "blood has not been spilt in vain ... The punishment will come whenever we decide it," Hezbollah's secretary general added.
"The Israelis think that Hezbollah is busy (with Syria's war) and with the situation in Lebanon ... I tell them: 'You're making a mistake,'" he said.
Nasrallah was referring to his movement's involvement in the war in neighboring Syria.
Thousands of Hezbollah troops are fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's troops, in a bid to crush a massive Sunni-led insurgency.
Lakiss was assassinated in the parking of his apartment building on November 4 in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Nasrallah said the top leader was "one of the brains of Hezbollah," and though he refused to reveal his position in the party, he did say his role was linked to his "work as a jihadist."
"He worked to develop (Hezbollah's) capacity," said Nasrallah, adding he was "a brother and a friend."
The last time a top Hezbollah leader was assassinated was in 2008, when Imad Mughniyeh was killed in a Damascus car bomb blast.
Mughniyeh's killing was also blamed on Israel, Hezbollah's sworn enemy, which denied involvement.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Friday that his Lebanese Shiite movement will "punish" Israel for the killing of a top leader earlier this month.
"The killers will be punished sooner or later ... Those who killed our brothers will not know safety anywhere in the world," he said in a televised tribute to Hassan al-Lakiss, whose killing Hezbollah blamed on Israel despite its denials.
"We and the Israelis have accounts that need settling. There are old and new debts between us," said Nasrallah.
Lakiss's "blood has not been spilt in vain ... The punishment will come whenever we decide it," Hezbollah's secretary general added.
"The Israelis think that Hezbollah is busy (with Syria's war) and with the situation in Lebanon ... I tell them: 'You're making a mistake,'" he said.
Nasrallah was referring to his movement's involvement in the war in neighboring Syria.
Thousands of Hezbollah troops are fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's troops, in a bid to crush a massive Sunni-led insurgency.
Lakiss was assassinated in the parking of his apartment building on November 4 in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Nasrallah said the top leader was "one of the brains of Hezbollah," and though he refused to reveal his position in the party, he did say his role was linked to his "work as a jihadist."
"He worked to develop (Hezbollah's) capacity," said Nasrallah, adding he was "a brother and a friend."
The last time a top Hezbollah leader was assassinated was in 2008, when Imad Mughniyeh was killed in a Damascus car bomb blast.
Mughniyeh's killing was also blamed on Israel, Hezbollah's sworn enemy, which denied involvement.
