At least six officers were killed and three were injured in a car bombing of the Spanish contingent of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon on Sunday, Middle East Newsline reported. The attack on the contingent, located in Khiam near the Israeli border, marked the first lethal strike on the expanded UNIFIL force, which began deployment in September 2006.

"The perpetrators not only targeted UNIFIL but peace and security in the area," UNIFIL commander, Gen. Claudio Graziano of Italy, said.

The car bomb ripped through the armored personnel carrier of the Spanish contingent. Ammunition in the APC also exploded.

Last week, at least three Katyusha 107 mm rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into Israel. An unknown Al Qaida-inspired group, believed to be supported by Syria, claimed responsibility.

"This attack falls within the framework of the same terrorist project the Syrian regime is waging against Lebanon, its stability and independence, through explosions and assassination," anti-Syrian Lebanese parliamentarians said in a statement.

Spain, which pledged to maintain its force in Lebanon, has deployed about 1,100 troops as part of UNIFIL. UNIFIL contains a total of 13,225 soldiers from 30 countries.