United Nations Radio

Several rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon into Israel.

Conflict in Gaza

The rockets reportedly landed in Nahariya, five miles from the border. Several injuries were reported, but no casualties. This is the first such incident since the start of Israel's attack on Gaza. I spoke earlier to Andrea Tenenti, Spokesperson for the UN Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which has been monitoring a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, established two years ago with Security Council resolution 1701:

Tenenti: We can confirm that at least 3 rockets were fired into Israel from the general area of Tayr Harfa, which is about 7 kilometers east of Naqoura. And immediately after, the Israel Defense Forces, they've returned fire with a few artillery rounds - there was more of an immediate response mechanism. Immediately after we have dispatched our troops on the ground in coordination with the Lebanese armed forces and we have been intensifying our patrols on the ground. At the same time the Lebanese armed forces has also decided to deploy additional units in the south in order to further enhance security in the area.

BK: I understand that nobody has taken responsibility, but are you investigating who might have fired the rockets?

Tenenti: Right, there has been no claim, in fact, of responsibility for these attacks and we are investigating the circumstances and we are doing it in close cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces who remain exactly in charge of the security and legality of the south.

BK: Well, isn't Hezbollah a suspect, though, since they started the 2006 war with Israel?

Tenenti: Let's say that since we are still investigating, so it would be too early now to say, so as I said, there has been no claim of responsibility, so at the moment we are still investigating. What we can say is that the parties - so the Lebanese authorities and the Israeli authorities - have reassured the force commander about their commitment to maintain the cessation of hostilities and their commitment to resolution 1701.

BK: Now, what is the atmosphere in the country - we've been seeing protests in many countries - do you see any of that?

Tenenti: Well, for the moment, you know, our focus is our area of operation, which goes from the Litani river to the "blue line" so we are basically in charge of the south of the country of Lebanon and, of course, the situation has been stable for the last two years, today, of course, we had these rockets fired into Israel. On the 24th of December 8 rockets were found by the Lebanese armed forces. They were not launched, but they were found and we dismantled the rockets together with the Lebanese armed forces. At the same time we intensified our patrols at that time. So the force commander of UNIFIL, General Graziano, just to answer your question, is maintaining close contact with the parties and has called for maximum restraint in order to prevent any escalation of the situation. So at the moment we are vigilant here in the South, intensified patrols. Our around 13,000 troops are monitoring the situation and, as I said before, the Lebanese armed forces are here working with us and they also have deployed additional units.

PRES: UNIFIL Spokesman, Andrea Tenenti.

Producer: Bissera Kostova
(duration: 3'25")