Three rockets fired from Lebanon hit north Israel; IDF returns fire

Thursday 17 May 2012 18:46:23

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The Israel Defense Forces responded soon after, firing a number of artillery shells at "the source of fire" in southern Lebanon, the army said. Lebanese security officials said a total of eight shells were fired.

The Israel Police said the rockets landed in open areas and there were no reports of damage or injuries. People in northern Israel were asked to head to bomb shelters.

Lebanese television reported that four rockets had been launched from an area close to the south Lebanon town of Hasbaya.

The IDF Northern Command has been making continuous assessments of the situation on the Lebanese border, the army said in a statement. It also said that Israel holds Lebanon's government and army responsible for preventing rocket fire at Israel.

A rocket alert siren was heard in the town of Kiryat Shmona, which was battered by hundreds of the rockets fired by Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon war.

A similar incident occurred on Thursday, when at least two Katyusha rockets fired from south Lebanon exploded in northern Israel. Two people were lightly wounded in the attack, and a number of others suffered from shock.

Israel Defense Forces troops immediately fired five artillery shells at Lebanon in response to the rockets, an Israeli security source said. A military spokesman said Israel aimed "a pinpoint response at the source of fire."

Israeli officials have expressed concern that militants in Lebanon could try to open a second front in the Gaza campaign in solidarity with Hamas.

A Hezbollah minister in Lebanon's Cabinet denied any involvement by the militant group in the firing of the rockets on Thursday. In 2006, Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon fired almost 4000 rockets at Israel during the Second Lebanon War.