Lebanon's border residents watch as smoke rises from Israeli shelling

People gathered on Sunday to watch the smoke rise from Israeli shells that hit Maroun al-Ras village in southern Lebanon. Spectators praised Hezbollah and expressed pride after anti-tank missiles from Lebanon targeted an Israeli army base and vehicles. Israel responded with fire into southern Lebanon, after a week of growing tension raised fears of a new war with long-time enemy Hezbollah.

The U.N. peacekeeping force on the frontier said calm had returned to the region at night. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also said it had urged both sides to "exercise utmost restraint to prevent any further escalation."