Shots Fired on Tense Lebanese-Israeli Border

October 6, 2003

KFAR KILA, Lebanon (Reuters) - Shots were fired from Israel over the border into Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese security sources said, one day after Israeli planes bombed inside Syria. "The Israelis fired in the air over Lebanese cars on the road between Kfar Kila and Adayseh with the excuse that they came under fire from our side," the security source said.

"But no one fired from our side and there are no injuries on our side," he added.

The incident comes a day after Israel launched its deepest air strike into Syria in 30 years, attacking what it called a training camp for Palestinian militants.

It described the raid as self-defense, after a suicide bombing in Haifa by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad killed 19 people.

Witnesses said two cars and several houses on the Lebanese side of the border were damaged in Monday's shooting incident.

The United Nations UNIFIL peacekeeping force in south Lebanon said there had been firing in the area, but gave no further details.

"There has been firing in the area. We are aware of the situation and are investigating," UNIFIL spokesman Milos Strugar said.

In a separate incident, Israeli troops in the disputed Shebaa Farms border area shelled close to the edges of a south Lebanese village, security sources said. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

Hizbollah guerrillas, who are backed by Syria and Iran, helped bring about Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation. They have since launched deadly attacks on Israeli troops in the Shebaa Farms area.

http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3565020