Israeli forces fired at least seven 155mm artillery rounds and opened heavy machine guns fire at positions around Kfarshuba

RASHAYA, Lebanon, January 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement attacked Tuesday, January 21, Israeli occupation troops in a the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.

Hezbollah fighters fired some15 mortar bombs and 107mm Katyusha rockets at two neighbouring Israeli military outposts at Roweissit al-Aalam and Tallet Sammaqa, opposite the southern village of Kfarshuba, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The attacks were launched after spotting Israeli soldiers leaving their position, BBC News Online quoted Hezbollah as saying.

Hezbollah said Roweissit al-Aalam was attacked after a group of Israeli soldiers left their outpost.

"The target took a direct hit," the Lebanese resistant group said in a statement.

The Israeli occupation army responded with artillery fire and air raids.

Israeli fighter-bombers later fired four missiles in two over-flights of an area to the west of Kfarshuba, Lebanese police sources said.

Israeli forces fired at least seven 155mm artillery rounds and opened heavy machine guns fire at positions around Kfarshuba, leaving two civilians seriously wounded, they added.

Dib Yassin, 82, was wounded in the legs by shrapnel and Samir Abu Qayss, a 20-year-old woman, suffered chest injuries.

The Israeli occupation army termed the incident a "serious development" ahead of the Israeli general election next week and a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq.

"This bombardment is a serious development. It is a clear attempt to provoke an escalation in the region ahead of the Israeli general elections or of a possible war with Iraq," AFP quoted a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as claiming.

This is the first Hezbollah attack in the occupied Lebanese border area since August 29, when three Israeli soldiers were wounded.

On May 24, 2000, Israel withdrew its troops from a large territory in southern Lebanon which it had been occupying since 1978.

A significant issue relating to the withdrawal remains unsettled. This relates to the status of certain villages and adjacent land on the eastern side of Alsheikh Mountain, known as the “Shebaa Farms”, which have been occupied by Israel since 1967.

The Lebanese government confirmed to the United Nations that the area is part and parcel of the Lebanese territory and that any Israeli withdrawal must encompass it.

Hezbollah vowed to continue resistance attacks to liberate the occupied Farms.