Lebanese defense minister says Israel organized firing of rockets at Israel to undermine Lebanon’s security. Lebanon believes that Israel organized the firing of rockets from southern Lebanese territory into the Jewish state in efforts to “undermine security and stability” in Lebanon, Lebanese English newspaper the Daily Star reported Tuesday.
Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn told the Star that “The party that has launched mysterious rockets from the south is known,” allegedly insinuating Israel.
“Lebanon’s enemies, namely Israel, have no interest in the continuation of calm and stability in the south,” the Lebanese defense minister said.
On Monday, Lebanese Armed Forces found four ready-to-fire Katyusha rockets in southeast Lebanon.
The rockets were discovered by military intelligence on the outskirts of the village of Majidieh in Hasbaya.
Four Katyusha rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon earlier this month in an incident that sparked tensions between Beirut and Jerusalem. The IDF retaliated shortly after the attacks by bombing sites in southern Lebanon, and area largely in control by Hezbollah. An organization affiliated with al Qaida claimed responsibility for the four 122-millimeter rockets that were fired from southern Lebanon, landing in the Western Galilee and causing extensive damage to a chicken coop and propane gas tank. The IDF said Hezbollah did not appear to be behind the attack.
According to Lebanese reports, only one rocket was fired at Israel in that attack. Lebanon has filed two complaints to the United Nations in December over Israel, one concerning the IDF retaliation and the second over Israeli spy devices the Lebanese army said it found in two villages in southern Lebanon.
