Katyusha lancering vanuit Zuid- Libanon
Mansour describes border rocket attack as isolated incident December 02, 2011 03:06 AM
| The Daily Star |
BEIRUT: Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Thursday that this week’s rocket attack on Israel had nothing to do with instability in neighboring Syria, labeling the exchange of fire across the Blue Line an “isolated incident.”
At least one rocket was fired into Israel from south Lebanon in an attack claimed by suspected Al-Qaeda affiliate the Abdullah Azzam Brigades. It prompted Israel to return a volley of artillery, although no one was injured.
“Unfortunately, people are putting the Syrians in every single incident and we reiterate that the incident is far from it,” Mansour told the Central News Agency. “It is simply an individual incident. We won’t accept such attacks. We also denounce what Israel did in retaliation.
“Lebanon respects and will continue to respect United Nations Security Council 1701,” he added.
U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Robert Watkins said New York was concerned over the rocket attack.
“We expect that the Lebanese authorities will take all necessary measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents,” Watkins told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut.
Lebanese Army Chief of Staff Major General Walid Salman visited the site where one rocket was launched. He declined to comment on the incident, before heading to the Naqoura headquarters of the U.N. Interim Force for meetings with senior officials.
The rocket attack was the first in two years. The Abdullah Azzam Brigades have claimed responsibility for previous similar attacks.
Chris Laarhoven
