KIRYAT: Zionist regime's self-propelled howitzers fire towards Lebanon from the northern Jewish town of Kiryat Shmona yesterday.-AFP

BEIRUT: Zionist gunners fired three rounds of artillery into south Lebanon yesterday in what they claimed in retaliation for rocket attacks, the Jewish army said, at a time of rising tensions between the Jewish state and Iran. "For the third time within two hours, the IDF (army) struck along the Lebanese border," the military said in a statement, adding that artillery forces "struck in Lebanese territory in response to the rockets fired at Jewish territory earlier today."

There were no immediate reports of casualties on the Lebanese side. The Zionist army said three rockets were fired from Lebanon into Jewish territory, though one fell short of the border. The others struck near the northern town of Kiryat Shmona, where air raid sirens sent residents into bomb shelters.

Medics of Magen David Adom, Zionist equivalent of the Red Cross, said four people were treated for "stress symptoms". The United Nations peacekeeping force in the border region, UNIFIL, urged "maximum restraint" after the exchange of fire on the day marking a year since an explosion at Beirut's port devastated swathes of the Lebanese capital and killed more than 200 people. Head of mission Major General Stefano Del Col urged the two sides "to cease fire and to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation, especially on this solemn anniversary", UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that it would investigate.

The statement came shortly after Zionist Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he had met with military leaders and "instructed the officials to deliver a firm message to UNIFIL following the attack". Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he and Gantz had been "briefed" on developments and were overseeing Zionist response. Gantz said the government would "not allow the social, political and economic crisis in Lebanon to turn into a security threat to Zionist entity."

'No reason for panic'

Kiryat Shmona mayor Avichai Stern told army radio sirens that went off "in the middle of the day with no warning". Stern said firefighters were extinguishing a brushfire caused by rockets and that bomb shelters would be opened if needed. "There is no reason for panic," Stern said. "We are ready for any scenario."

The exchange of fire comes days after Zionists and other states accused Iran of carrying out an apparent drone attack on an Jewish-linked tanker off Oman that killed two crew members, and hinted at possible retaliation. Iran denied the allegation and warned it would "respond to any possible adventurism." - AFP