The Lebanese Hizbollah resistance movement said it opened fire twice with anti-aircraft batteries Thursday after Israeli warplanes violated the Arab country's airspace.
The group said it fired at 10:20 am against "enemy planes" after they violated Lebanese airspace over the (southern) region of Bent Jbeil, AFP said, citing a Hizbollah statement.
"Ten minutes later, the enemy warplanes violated Lebanese airspace again over the (nearby) region of Beit Leef, so our anti-aircraft batteries confronted them again," said the statement.
The statement did not say whether any of the aircraft had been hit.
Lebanese security sources confirmed to AFP that Israeli warplanes flew over southern Lebanon on Thursday.
An Israeli military source said Thursday that Israeli troops were on high alert along the Jewish state's border with Lebanon, fearing a major attack by Hizbollah fighters or a suicide bombing by Palestinians in northern Israel.
After Israel assassinated the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Abu Ali Mustapha in his office in Ramallah on Monday, security sources were quoted by Haaretz newspaper as saying that Islamic organizations, including Hizbollah, would try to carry out revenge attacks against Israel.
Israel withdrew most of its forces from Lebanon in May 2000, following over a decade of occupation, leaving behind ruined infrastructure, orphans and minefields.
They were driven out by Hizbollah resistance fighters, and by mounting domestic pressure to end the military venture.
Israel continues to occupy the Shabaa Farms area along its border with Lebanon, and refuses to relinquish control of Syria's Golan Heights – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
