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Lebanon, Israel exchange fires

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-28 05:39

BEIRUT: A Katyusha rocket launched from South Lebanon hit Israel on Tuesday evening, while Israel responded later with artillery shells.

The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon confirmed in a statement that the rocket was fired from the general area of Houla in southern Lebanon at around 16:50 GMT and impacted in northern Israel in the vicinity of Kiryat Shemona. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated with artillery fire.

Lebanese state news agency reported that Israel responded with nine shells 45 minutes after the rocket explosion.

Related readings:  Rocket fired from Lebanon hits Israel  Lebanon, Israel exchange rocket attacks  Israel says Lebanon accountable for Hezbollah  Israel hit again by rockets from Lebanon

UNIFIL, in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, has deployed additional troops and reaction force in the area. There is no reports of casualties on either side.

UN peacekeeping forces are in contact with both parties, urging them to exercise maximum restraint, uphold the cessation of hostilities and avoid taking steps which would lead to further escalation, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Israeli police source said a rocket landed in an open ground east of the northern Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shemona and started a fire, but did not cause any casualties.

In the same area where the rocket was originated, Israel detonated at least two spying devices on October 17 and 18.

The devices were planted in Lebanese land by Israel in a bid to monitor the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah's communications system.

The fire exchange of the two countries is the second of its kind within two months. On September 11, at least two rockets launched from an area near southern Lebanon's Tyre City hit northern Israel, while the Jewish state answered with 14 artillery shells.