Salam slams 'irresponsible rocket fire' at Israel, condemns 'dangerous' Israeli escalation

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday called Israel’s strike on two buildings in the Beirut southern suburb of al-Jamous "a dangerous escalation," urging the army chief "to act quickly to... uncover those behind the irresponsible rocket fire that threatens Lebanon's stability" and arrest them.

He also denounced "Israeli attacks that target civilians and safe residential areas."

Lebanon's army later said it had identified the site of the rocket launch, just north of the Litani River, and was trying to identify the perpetrators.

Salam contacted the army chief "and asked him to act quickly to undertake the necessary investigations to uncover those behind the irresponsible rocket fire that threatens Lebanon's stability and security," according to a statement from his office, urging "intensified efforts" to arrest the perpetrators.

Friday was the second time -- the first was last Saturday -- that rockets had been fired from Lebanon towards Israeli territory since a November 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Iran-backed group denying involvement both times.

The statement also said Salam had also been in contact with unspecified foreign officials to press for Israel to "stop its repeated attacks."

Israel has continued to carry out air raids in south and east Lebanon since the ceasefire, striking what it says are Hezbollah military targets that violated the agreement.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel was due to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by February 18 after missing a January deadline, but it has kept troops at five locations it deems "strategic".

The agreement also required Hezbollah to pull its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

The Lebanese Army deployed as the Israeli army has pulled out.

Salam also emphasized "the need to complete the measures taken by the Lebanese Army to limit weapons to state hands," according to the statement.

He reiterated "Lebanon's full commitment to the implementation of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire arrangements," emphasizing that "only the Lebanese army is in charge of protecting the borders."

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and served as the foundation for the November truce.

"The Lebanese state decides between war and peace," Salam added, according to the statement.

Hezbollah, the only Lebanese armed group that refused to surrender its weapons following a 1975-1990 civil war, was left heavily weakened during the latest conflict with Israel.