Officials in Beirut say IDF artillery response to Katyusha rockets was a violation of UNSC Res. 1701 and of international law.
By JPOST.COM STAFFIsraeli firefighter and policeman remove Katyusha rocket 311(photo credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner)Lebanon filed a complaint in the United Nations against Israel Monday for its retaliation to Katyusha rockets fired into Israel late last month, Lebanese newspaper the Daily Star reported.In response to the four rockets fired from Lebanon, the IDF pounded the launch sites with artillery shells. The Lebanese report claimed that only one rocket was fired from Lebanon into Israel and that the IDF fired six artillery shells.RELATED:Lebanese rockets - an indirect message? IDF continues to train for war with Hezbollah The UN complaint alleges that the IDF action was a violation of UNSC Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War, as well as international law.Immediately following the rocket attack the IDF filed a complaint with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which launched an investigation into the attack. The UN force called for restraint from both sides.
“This is a serious incident in violation of UN Council Security Resolution 1701 and is clearly directed at undermining stability in the area,” a UNIFIL statement said.An organization associated with al-Qaida claimed responsibility for firing the rockets.The IDF said it held the Lebanese government responsible for the attacks and that it needed to take action to prevent future rocket fire. Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilna’i said that “the Lebanese government is responsible for everything that happens in Lebanon and everything that leaves its borders.”Yaakov Lappin and Yaakov Katz contributed to this report.
