UN chief condemns rocket fire on Israel

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on Friday the rocket fire from southern Lebanon into Israel that occurred one day earlier and prompted an Israeli response.

According to a statement issued by the UN chief’s spokesperson, Ban considers the firing of rockets from the area of Tyre “a clear violation of resolution 1701,” which called for the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel in 2006.

The statement also noted Israel’s retaliatory strikes against terrorist targets near the coastal town of al-Naameh, south of Beirut, and said that Ban “condemns any and all violations of resolution 1701.”

“[Ban] urges all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and cooperate with UNIFIL, in order to prevent an escalation. The parties must fully adhere to resolution 1701 (2006).” UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, is investigating the incident in coordination with the Lebanese Armed forces and the IDF, the statement read.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon put the onus for the Tyre-based attack on the Lebanese government.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman condemned the rocket attacks on Israel and ordered his security forces to find the attackers and bring them to justice, Lebanon’s official National News Agency said.

Four rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday afternoon. There were no casualties, but damage was caused to several homes in the Nahariya and Acre areas. The red alert siren sounded in the cities of Nahariya, Acre, Kiryat Shmona and Karmiel, and residents reported hearing explosions. The Israeli response came before dawn on Friday.

IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz spoke with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey over the phone Friday. The two reportedly discussed developments in Lebanon and Syria.