"The rockets fired at the grandchildren of monkeys and pigs from the south of Lebanon was only the start of a blessed in-depth strike against the Zionist enemy," said the statement, which was posted on militant Islamic Web sites.

The three rockets were fired on December 27 from Lebanon into the Israeli town of Kiryat Shimona. The attack resulted in minor damage and no casualties.

Terror group al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack in internet posts on December 29 on sites previously used by the group.

The Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi is the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, having pledged his allegiance to bin Laden in October 2004.

His group has claimed responsibility for numerous bombings in Iraq and for the November suicide bombings of hotels in Jordan.

CNN