Israeli policemen stand next to smoke from a fire following incoming rockets from Lebanon to Israel in Bezet, northern Israel April 6, 2023. (Credit: REUTERS/Fadi Amun)
Dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon targeted the north of Israel on Thursday afternoon, the Israeli army announced.
The Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a Tweet that "34 rockets were fired from Lebanon toward Israel and 25 of them were intercepted by the Israeli anti-aircraft defense system." Of the nine that were not intercepted, he said "five landed in Israeli territory while the four remaining are still being searched for."
"There is no exceptional directives on the internal front," he added.
According to Israeli official sources cited by Reuters, the rocket launches from Lebanon were answered by a burst of cross-border artillery fire. Two Lebanese security sources said there were at least two attacks coming from South Lebanon, with multiple rockets.
On Thursday evening, Three rockets were firedtowards the Israeli settlement of Metulla from the southern Lebanese district of Marjayoun, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it was "aware of reports of explosions in the settlement of Metula and is investigating the matter" in a statement published by the NNA. It added that it was still in contact with the various parties and "urged calm at this extremely sensitive time".
Hamas in Lebanon
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the rockets, but three security sources said Palestinian factions in Lebanon were believed to be responsible. A Hezbollah spokesperson declined to comment on the incident.
"The side that fired rockets from Lebanon is Hamas in Lebanon," Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a tweet published Thursday night following a meeting of Israel's security cabinet.
"We are also examining the possibility of the intervention of Iran in the firing of rockets from Lebanon," Adraee added.
"We know for sure it's Palestinian fire," another spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters.
"It's hard to say, it could be Hamas it could be Islamic Jihad, we are still trying to finalise but it wasn't Hezbollah," he continued.
"We assume Hezbollah knew about it, and Lebanon also has some responsibility. We are also investigating whether Iran was involved."
In the evening, the Lebanese Army found the launching pads used to fire dozens of rockets early Thursday afternoon towards Israel, along with unused ammunition, near the villages of Ziqine and Qlaileh, the army said in a statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on the international community to "put pressure on Israel to stop the escalation" at the border.
The violence comes one day after Israeli police stormed Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem and arrested worshippers, drawing strong condemnation in the Arab world.
'Extremely serious' situation
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that there were "multiple rocket launches from southern Lebanon toward Israel."
The Israeli army then informed UNIFIL that it had "activated its Iron Dome defense system in response."
"Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro is in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line. The current situation is extremely serious," the statement added.
"UNIFIL urges restraint and to avoid further escalation."
Earlier in the day, the Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli army had retaliated by firing several shells at positions near the villages of Qlaileh and Maaliyeh, on the Lebanese-Israeli border. This may have been inaccurate, as Israel said it has only activated the Iron Dome to intercept the rockets.
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in South Lebanon, residents Qlaileh heard rocket fire and spotted smoke in the sky, but the launch from Lebanon has not yet been claimed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the security cabinet to assess the situation in northern Israel.
Netanyahu "is continuously informed of the development of the situation and will conduct an assessment with the heads of security agencies," his office said, as quoted by AFP.
According to the Israeli rescue services, a man was slightly injured by shrapnel and a woman was injured while running for cover.
Escalating violence
Hezbollah said Thursday morning that it supports "all measures" Palestinian groups may take against Israel after Israeli forces attacked worshippers this week at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque.
"Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful," the party said in a statement.
Global condemnation mounted after Israeli police attacked Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site, sparking an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. There are fears of further escalation.
The Israeli Iron Dome — its mobile air defense system — was activated near Kibbutz Snir in northern Israel on Wednesday in response to a "false alarm."
An Israeli army spokesman ruled out the possibility of a "security incident."
Incidents on the border between Lebanon and Israel are frequent. Last month, an Israeli military vehicle hit a mine while it was near the Lebanese border in the village of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, injuring several people.
Also in March, the Israeli army announced it had killed a suspect allegedly wearing an explosive belt in the northern part of the country. Israel said the suspect infiltrated its territory from Lebanon and accused Hezbollah of being behind the incident.
In 2006, the last major confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah left more than 1,200 dead on the Lebanese side, mostly civilians, and 160 dead on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.