British Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has condemned the rocket attacks from Lebanon that hit northern Israel.

Mr Burt said: “The rocket attacks from Lebanon into northern Israel today are deeply concerning. I strongly condemn any action that risks stoking tensions in the region. I urge parties on all sides to act with utmost restraint and avoid escalating the situation further.”

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon struck northern Israel overnight, the first such incident since October 2009. The rockets were fired by the Sheikh Abdullah Azzam Brigades.

The Israel Defence Forces in the area returned fire but no casualties were reported.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman told Beirut’s Daily Star that rocket firing does “not serve the interest of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

Ynet reported that the IDF had decided to temporarily deactivate the rocket warning system after intelligence suggested the likelihood of rocket fire on the border was slim. Two rockets later hit the Western Galilee.

Hezbollah denied any connection to the rocket attacks.