JERUSALEM, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The United States is once again urging Israel to exercise restraint over attacks by Hezbollah guerrillas near the Israeli-Lebanon border.
The Ha'aretz news agency said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell conveyed the message Monday during a telephone call to Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom after Israel said it held Syria and Hezbollah patron Iran responsible for attacks by the Shiite guerrilla group.
Israel's IDF Northern Command started reinforcing its artillery units Monday along the Israel-Lebanon border, giving the military a greater range of fire into Lebanese territory. Ha'aretz said that was the first reinforcement of artillery in the north since a confrontation with Hezbollah in April 2002.
Following the Sunday death of a teenager during Hezbollah shelling on the northern town of Shlomi, Israel announced it intended to refrain from a harsh response to attacks by the group.
Israel Radio reported Monday the German and Spanish foreign ministers have told Israel they have demanded that Syria rein in Hezbollah.
