Israel warns Syria over Lebanon

Israel has said its air strikes on suspected Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon were a warning signal to Syria.
Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said the guerrillas could not have launched recent attacks on Israel without the knowledge and approval of Syria, which has a large military contingent in the country.

Civilians were caught in crossfire in the village of Kfar Chouba

Hezbollah fighters are reported to have fired mortars and rockets on at least three Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms border area on Saturday.

"We do not want to open a new front, we do not want an escalation but this operation could not have taken place without the knowledge and authorisation of Syria," Mr Ben Eliezer said.

Witnesses described heavy smoke rising from one Israeli military post after the Hezbollah attacks.

Israeli jets responded by firing several air-to-surface missiles and Israeli artillery reportedly shelled the outskirts of Hasbaya, a town on the Lebanese side of the border.

There were no reports of casualties.