Shooting Resumes In Southern Lebanon

Israel shelled civilian areas of southern Lebanon on Sunday for the first time since fighting between its forces and Hezbollah guerrillas ended three weeks ago.

Syria, the major power-broker in Lebanon, immediately accused Israel of violating the American-backed cease-fire agreement.

The shelling was in retaliation for a morning attack by Hezbollah guerrillas on targets inside Israel’s so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon. Two guerrillas were killed and one Israeli soldier was wounded in that clash, the latest inside the zone in recent weeks. A Lebanese woman was hurt in the retaliatory barrage, the first civilian wounded since the cease-fire took hold.

The agreement, which took effect on April 27, does not prohibit guerrilla attacks on military targets on Lebanese territory occupied by Israel. But it does prohibit attacks from or at civilian areas on both sides of the border.