U.N. alarmed by Lebanon rocket attacks on Israel

By Louis Charbonneau

AMMAN (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm on Wednesday over reports of Lebanese rocket attacks against Israel and urged all parties in the region to avoid actions that could make a bad situation worse.

"That is ... a very alarming, very disturbing and troubling situation," Ban told reporters in the Jordanian capital on the first day of a week-long tour of the Middle East.

Ban said that U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, were investigating the rocket attacks launched from inside Lebanon. The incident took place on the 19th day of Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza strip.

"I again strongly urge all the parties concerned in this region ... to refrain from taking such violent actions which will destabilize the situation," Ban said.

"We are now going through a very difficult process to bring a cease-fire, to bring stability back to Gaza. Such actions are just unacceptable," Ban said.

He added that he would discuss the latest Lebanese rocket salvoes -- the second such attack from Lebanon in a week -- with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Thursday and with Lebanese officials in Beirut later in the week.

Security sources in Lebanon said five rockets were fired, though two fell in Lebanon. Witnesses in southern Lebanon said Israel responded with artillery fire but there were no reports of casualties or further Israeli military action.

Israel fought a month-long war in 2006 against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for last week's rocket attacks against Israel.