UN peacekeeping mission says Lebanon and Israel do not want war

BEIRUT: The United Nations peacekeeping mission UNIFIL has said that Israel and Lebanon do not want war following an exchange of fire between the two neighbours, reported German news agency dpa.

"Both sides have said they do not want a war," United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors security at the Lebanese border with Israel, said in a statement.

The UN peacekeeping mission said that it was in contact with both countries, which officially are at war.

UNIFIL called on everyone involved to stop the attacks. "The actions over the past day are dangerous and risk a serious escalation," it said.

A Lebanese security source told dpa that at least three explosions were heard at dawn after Israeli jets hit an agricultural field on the outskirts of a Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

According to the Israeli army, some 34 missiles were launched into Israel, marking one of the biggest attacks since 2006.

Israel's military, which blames Palestinians for the launches, on Friday said it struck Hamas targets in southern Lebanon.

--BERNAMA-DPA