UN chief condemns rocket attacks against Israel

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on Friday the firing of at least two rockets against Israel from southern Lebanon earlier in the day.

"The Secretary-General urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint," Ban's press office said in a statement.

The UN chief urged the parties to "fully adhere to Security Council resolution 1701," which was adopted in 2006 to help end a month-long war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Ban called on the parties to "respect the cessation of hostilities agreement."

The statement noted that the Israel Defense Forces returned fire with artillery rounds towards the direction of where the rockets were launched. There were no reports of casualties on either side.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is investigating the circumstances of the incident in close cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, it added.