UN head urges restraint following Lebanon rocket attack on Israel
World organization chief worried 'very serious incident in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701' will undermine stability in largely quiet region since 2006 Hezbollah war
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for restraint following a rocket attack and retaliatory shelling along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
“(Ban) appreciates the cooperation of both the Lebanese and Israeli authorities with UNIFIL's efforts to prevent further escalation of this incident, as well as their continued commitment to the cessation of hostilities along the Blue Line,” the UN chief’s spokesperson said in a statement late Sunday.
A rocket launched in Lebanon exploded in Israel Sunday morning. 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".
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Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there were no injuries and no damage caused from Sunday's rocket fire.
“The Secretary-General urges all actors to exercise maximum restraint and prevent further incidents with destabilizing and escalatory potential in the region.”
The statement also quoted UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Paolo Serra as saying that the recent border clash was “a very serious incident in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and is clearly directed at undermining stability in the area.”
The Israeli army said on Sunday that five rockets were fired at Israel, with at least one of them exploding on its territory without causing any casualties or damage.
In retaliation, the Israeli military fired about 20 shells at Lebanon, also without causing any casualties or damage, according to a Lebanese security official.
Tension has spiked on the border between the two countries since Lebanese troops shot dead an Israeli soldier driving near the frontier on December 16.
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It was the most serious incident along the border since 2010, when one Israeli soldier and two Lebanese soldiers, and a journalist were killed.
Israel's border with Lebanon has been largely quiet since the 2006 war with Hezbollah.
