5 Katyushas found on Lebanese border

UNIFIL: Lebanese security forces discover cache near Rosh Hanikra; UN launches investigation.

By YAAKOV KATZ, AP
katyusha hizbullah 224.8 (photo credit: AP [file])
katyusha hizbullah 224.8
(photo credit: AP [file])
Lebanese security forces discovered five Katyusha rockets in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, a senior official from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Wednesday. Milos Strugar said the rockets, which were not prepared for launching, were discovered along with a launch pad by a patrol of peacekeepers near the town of Naqoura, to the north of Rosh Hanikra, where the UN force is headquartered. Strugar said Lebanese army units were called in and an investigation was underway. Rockets from Lebanon were fired into Israel on two occasions during last month's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Defense officials said Wednesday that it was possible that the rockets belonged to a Palestinian group that had planned to launch them into Israel during last month's operation. While the rockets may belong to Palestinian groups, the officials said that Hizbullah was likely activating them as proxies. "Hizbullah is in charge of what happens in southern Lebanon," one official said.