Israeli army accuses Hamas of being behind rockets fired from Lebanon

BEIRUT — The Israeli army on Thursday accused Palestinian faction Hamas, which is present in Lebanon, of firing rockets from Lebanese territories toward Israel.

Earlier on Thursday, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon, targeting the northern part of Israel, the Israeli army said.

"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.

He also said that the "Lebanese government bears the responsibility when rockets are fired from its territories toward Israel. The firing of rockets is considered a dangerous incident."

"We are also examining the possibility of the intervention of Iran in the firing of rockets from Lebanon," Adraee added.

The spokesperson added that the Israeli army "is present and is in complete readiness. The percentage of rocket prevention today indicates this readiness. There are no exceptional directives on the internal front, not in the north or in the south." 

For his part, Daniel Hagari, another Israeli army spokesperson, denied reports about Israel firing back artillery following the incident. In a media briefing, he said, "We have not responded in Lebanon; there was no Israeli army artillery fire in Lebanon."

Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh arrived on a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday morning.