Israeli top official hints military reprisals against Lebanon

By: Ahmed Hammadi

HELD JERUSALEM: Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom hinted that his country may take military action in Lebanon after rockets were fired at northern Israel in an attack claimed by a group named after a slain Hezbollah activist.

Talking to army radio on Tuesday, Shalom said: “Israel cannot keep its arms folded as if nothing has happened, that is why we must seriously study our political response. On the military front, we will react in a time and manner that seems appropriate to us.”

One of the homemade rockets exploded in a field near the Israeli town of Shlomi, several kilometres (miles) from the Lebanese border, while the other crashed into the Mediterranean, without causing any damage or casualties.

Hezbollah announced last Sunday that it had sent a drone over Israel. Its chief Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah has also said the movement possesses drones that can carry explosives to strike targets deep inside Israel if the Jewish state attacks Lebanon.

END