Israeli jets attack suspected Lebanese guerrilla positions

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Israeli jets fired rockets on suspected Hezbollah positions Tuesday after the Lebanese guerrillas fired mortars and rockets at Israeli posts in a disputed stretch of farmland, Lebanese security officials said.

Two Israeli jets fired at least three rockets on targets south of Kfar Chouba village on the Lebanese side of the border, but heavy fog prevented seeing what was hit, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Trading volleys

Before the attack, Hezbollah guerrillas fired mortar rounds and about 20 rockets at Israeli positions within the disputed Chebaa Farms area. The Israelis responded with up to 70 155mm Howitzer shells, the security officials said.

A Hezbollah statement said the guerrillas scored direct hits on Israeli positions, and claimed "three certain casualties."

There was no word from Israel on any casualties. But after Tuesday's mortar and rocket attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned Hezbollah and Syria, which Israel maintains controls the guerrillas, they were "not immune" from Israeli retaliation.

The clash is the third in the area in four days, raising the possibility of wider Arab-Israeli clashes as Israeli forces besiege West Bank towns and keep Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat under house arrest.

Israel also urged U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday to immediately warn the Syrian and Lebanese governments that attacks against northern Israel threaten "alarming consequences."

"The Lebanese resistance is a legal one because they are defending their territory, and from their territory," Syria's U.N. Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe said in New York when asked if his country was instigating Hezbollah attacks.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's Defense Minister Khalil Hrawi said Israeli reports of Katyusha rockets being fired from Lebanon were "not proved." Hezbollah has not commented on the reports.

Israel accused Hezbollah of firing two Katyusha rockets into Israel late Monday, the first such attack since Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon in May 2000. The Israeli reports said the rockets exploded harmlessly in fields.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said he had asked "authorities who would know about such matters" if Katyushas had been fired but received no confirmation.

Hrawi acknowledged, however, a cross-border shooting Saturday night, calling it an "isolated incident" that did not reflect Lebanese government or Hezbollah policy.

In an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. television, Hrawi said Lebanon's policy remains to respect the U.N.-drawn border while continuing to support the guerrillas in their quest to liberate the Chebaa Farms area.