UN chief Ban condemns rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gantz discussed situations in Lebanon and Syria with his American counterpart, Gen. Martin Dempsey.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ban Ki moon *concerned, thinking* 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Ban Ki moon *concerned, thinking* 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the rocket fire from Lebanon that landed in northern Israel on Thursday.
The IAF struck a "terrorist" target 7 kilometers south of Beirut early on Friday morning in response to the four rockets.
Ban urged "all concerned to exercise maximum restraint, and cooperate with UNIFIL in order to prevent an escalation," read a statement released by his spokesperson.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz discussed the situations in Lebanon and Syria with his American counterpart Gen. Martin Dempsey on Friday night, Israel Radio reported.
Israel said it holds the Lebanese government responsible for the rocket fire that occurred on Thursday, even though a Sunni group called the Abdallah al-Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the rockets.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon held a consultation with Gantz on Friday following the rocket fire and the IAF  response.
"The state of Israel sees the Lebanese government as responsible to what happens in its territory and will not allow any firing or provocation at it," Ya'alon said. "We will not allow anyone to disrupt the lives of our civilians."
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has denied involvement in Thursday's rocket attack, saying, "the firing of rockets towards Israel is a violation of the UN-regulated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon," Army Radio reported on Thursday.