Lebanese army defuses four rockets in southern Lebanon (Roundup)

Oct 28, 2009, 12:56 GMT

Beirut - The Lebanese army and the United Nations interim Force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) defused Wednesday four rockets which were set to be launched towards northern Israel.

The incident came a day after one Katyusha rocket was fired from the village of Houla into northern Israel, prompting the Jewish state to retaliate by shelling the area. There were no injuries or damage on either side of the border.

Tuesday's attack was not yet claimed. In the past, Israel has held the Lebanese government responsible for such attacks from southern Lebanon.

According to a Lebanese security source, the rockets were found on the same launch pad used during the attack on Tuesday.

The state-run National News Agency said three of the Katyushas were found in the garden of Houla mayor Faisal Hijazi and one on his balcony.

UNIFIL Commander Major General Claudio Graziano inspected the area where the rockets were found, NNA added.

UNIFIL spokeswoman Yasmina Bouzian confirmed the incident and said UNIFIL had 'already started the investigation.'

Bouzian in a statement called for 'the utmost level of self restraint in order to maintain the end of belligerence and to avoid further complications.'

The statement said that according to initial reports, a rocket was launched from the Houla area in South Lebanon at 6:50 pm Tuesday and landed in the Israeli village of Kiryat Shmona, which led to the Israeli army to retaliate by firing mortar shells at the launch site.

Bouziane added that in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), UNIFIL increased the number of troops in the area.

Tuesday's rocket landed in an open field east of the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona and started a fire but caused no serious damage, Israeli media reported.