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Militias in Lebanon Fire Rocket Barrage Into Israel Militias in Lebanon Fire Rocket Barrage Into Israel
(about 1 hour later)
Armed groups in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets toward Israel on Thursday, in an unusual and serious escalation that followed weeks of growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia and political group that dominates southern Lebanon. Armed groups in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets toward Israel on Thursday in an unusual and serious escalation that followed weeks of growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia and political group that dominates southern Lebanon.
Roughly 30 rockets were fired, five of which evaded Israeli air defense systems and landed in Israeli territory, according to a spokesman for the Israeli military. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said they would hold security assessments with senior military officials. At least 34 rockets were fired, of which 25 were intercepted by Israeli air-defense systems and five landed in Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military. The barrage was far heavier than any other in recent years, when armed groups have occasionally fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel, but only in much smaller bursts and usually away from towns and cities.
Some of rockets fired Thursday landed in built-up areas, sending up large plumes of smoke. The reverberations and shrapnel shattered several windows.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said they would hold security assessments with senior military officials, and the Israeli military denied Lebanese reports that Israel had responded with cross-border artillery fire.
An emergency medical group, Magen David Adom, said that several people inside Israel were hurt — including one person hit by shrapnel. A United Nations peacekeeping force that operates along the border, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, said it was in touch with leaders in both countries and described the situation as “extremely serious.”An emergency medical group, Magen David Adom, said that several people inside Israel were hurt — including one person hit by shrapnel. A United Nations peacekeeping force that operates along the border, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, said it was in touch with leaders in both countries and described the situation as “extremely serious.”
Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack, and armed groups run by Palestinian exiles also operate in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack. Armed groups run by Palestinian exiles also operate in southern Lebanon with Hezbollah’s blessing, and Israeli officials said those groups were responsible for rocket fire from Lebanon in 2021.
The attack came a day after an Israeli police raid on a mosque at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, which was met with widespread anger outside of Israel, particularly among Muslims. The attack came a day after an Israeli police raid on a mosque at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, which was met with widespread anger among Palestinians, and prompted rocket fire from Gaza.
Israel fought a full-scale war with Hezbollah in 2006 and regularly strikes Hezbollah-linked targets in allied Syria, and occasionally in Lebanon. But confrontations on the Israeli-Lebanese border had been kept in relative check over the past decade. Armed groups have occasionally fired rockets into Israel in recent years, but only in much smaller bursts. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist armed group that dominates the Gaza Strip, said on Wednesday that its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had arrived in Lebanon.
Israel fought a full-scale war with Hezbollah in 2006 and regularly strikes Hezbollah-linked targets in allied Syria, where Hezbollah forces participate in the Syrian war, and occasionally in Lebanon. But confrontations on the Israeli-Lebanese border had been kept in relative check over the past decade.
Fears of a larger battle rose in recent weeks, however, after a man whom Israeli officials suspect was connected to Hezbollah crossed from Lebanon to Israel last month. The man planted a roadside bomb beside an Israeli highway before he was shot and killed by Israeli security officers.Fears of a larger battle rose in recent weeks, however, after a man whom Israeli officials suspect was connected to Hezbollah crossed from Lebanon to Israel last month. The man planted a roadside bomb beside an Israeli highway before he was shot and killed by Israeli security officers.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, recently claimed that Israel was on the verge of collapse, referring to the domestic political crisis over a proposed judicial overhaul that has exacerbated longstanding divisions within Israeli society. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, recently said that he believed Israel was on the verge of collapse, referring to the domestic political crisis over a proposed judicial overhaul that has exacerbated longstanding divisions within Israeli society.
“As we have always predicted, great Israel has fallen,” Mr. Nasrallah said in a speech last month. “There is no trust in the army, political leaders or military leaders.”“As we have always predicted, great Israel has fallen,” Mr. Nasrallah said in a speech last month. “There is no trust in the army, political leaders or military leaders.”
The judicial crisis led Mr. Netanyahu to nominally fire Mr. Gallant after the defense minister called for a halt to the overhaul because of the anger it had caused within parts of the armed forces, endangering Israel’s military readiness. But Mr. Netanyahu never sent Mr. Gallant a letter officially confirming his dismissal, meaning that he remains in the post.The judicial crisis led Mr. Netanyahu to nominally fire Mr. Gallant after the defense minister called for a halt to the overhaul because of the anger it had caused within parts of the armed forces, endangering Israel’s military readiness. But Mr. Netanyahu never sent Mr. Gallant a letter officially confirming his dismissal, meaning that he remains in the post.
The rockets from Lebanon compound a tense security situation for Israel.The rockets from Lebanon compound a tense security situation for Israel.
Unrest and violence have also been at unusually high levels in the occupied West Bank. And there was a surge this week in rocket fire from Gaza following the Jerusalem mosque raid.Unrest and violence have also been at unusually high levels in the occupied West Bank. And there was a surge this week in rocket fire from Gaza following the Jerusalem mosque raid.
Hiba Yazbek contributed reporting from Jerusalem and Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Lebanon.Hiba Yazbek contributed reporting from Jerusalem and Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Lebanon.