'A Nahar': UNIFIL was apprised of rocket attack

Lebanese paper: UNIFIL knew of attack 10 days in advance, passed information on to Lebanese army.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Katyushas prepared for launch 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Katyushas prepared for launch 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Several sources notified UNIFIL of the possibility that rockets would be launched towards Israel from Lebanon ten days ahead of Friday's firing of two Katyushas at the North, Lebanese paper A Nahar reported. The two Katyusha rockets landed in open fields, causing no casualties or damage. The Jerusalem Post could not verify the Lebanese report. According to A Nahar, UNIFIL troops also received a report of the type of rockets to be used, and the United Nations force passed the information on to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) two days ahead of the attack. The report did not state whether the LAF acted on the intelligence. On Saturday, Lebanese media reported that the rockets were fired by four men who arrived to a village near Tyre by pick-up truck, positioned the rockets on launchers, set up timers and escaped. Following the shooting on Friday, UNIFIL and the LAF raised their level of alert. The IDF fired about 15 artillery shells at the source of the shooting immediately afterward. It estimated that the rockets were fired by elements of Global Jihad and that the incident was isolated and would not lead to escalation on the Lebanese front. Later Friday evening, Israel filed an official complaint with the UN over the incident. In the complaint, Israel's envoy Gabriela Shalev clarified that Jerusalem held Lebanon responsible for the shooting. At the beginning of Sunday's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel held Lebanon responsible for the attack.