UN, U.S. condemn rocket firing into Israel from Lebanon

A man inspects the damage to a building caused by Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon, in Nahariya, northern Israel, Jan. 8, 2009. Several rockets pounded northern Israel Thursday morning, causing light injuries. Israeli forces fought back shortly by firing mortars across the border. (Xinhua/Moran Mayan) Photo Gallery>>>

UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and the United States on Thursday condemned the firing of rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon as a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and urged exercise of restraint.

In a statement issued by his press office, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the firing of rockets against Israel from southern Lebanon, adding that he felt relieved the incident did not escalate.

A man inspects the damage to a building caused by Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon, in Nahariya, northern Israel, Jan. 8, 2009. Several rockets pounded northern Israel Thursday morning, causing light injuries. Israeli forces fought back shortly by firing mortars across the border. (Xinhua/Moran Mayan) Photo Gallery>>>

The UN chief urged "both parties to exercise maximum restraint" and reminded the parties of "their obligation to fully adhere to Security Council resolution 1701 and respect the cessation of hostilities agreement," according to the statement.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the incident was "clearly a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701." "We condemn the attack that took place into Israel," he told a press briefing.

Commenting on Israel's return of fire into Lebanon, Wood said: "I think Israel showed some restraint."

At least two Katyusha rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit northern Israel on Thursday morning, prompting an Israeli response by firing several artillery rounds at the Lebanese side.

It was unclear whether the rockets were fired by Hezbollah or by Palestinian organizations in Lebanon acting in solidarity with Hamas militants who are exchanging fires with Israel military forces in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli offensive on Hamas-controlled Gaza, launched on Dec.27 with the claimed objective of stopping rocket firing into southern Israel by Hamas, entered its 13th day on Thursday, with more than 700 Palestinians reportedly killed.

The UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, and prohibited any aggression from any side against the other.