A rocket on its launch pad near Kolaile, South Lebanon, April 8, 2023. (Credit: Twitter/@LebarmyOfficial)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army said Saturday it had found rockets and new launch pads near Kolaile in southern Lebanon, two days after dozens of munitions were fired from the area into Israel, increasing border tensions to a level not seen since the 34-day war of 2006. The Zionist state retaliated Friday with brief pre-dawn strikes that left no injuries in Lebanon, but did cause material damage. Tel Aviv claimed it was targeting Hamas positions in Lebanon.
The Lebanese Army Thursday evening found the launch pads used for the shots fired at Israel, which took place near the villages of Ziqine and Kolaile.
The rockets found "were ready to be fired days ago," said the troop on its Twitter account, adding that "the equipment found Saturday is being dismantled."
The thirty rockets fired from Lebanon toward Israel Thursday injured one person and caused material damage. These attacks took place the day after violent Israeli police attacks inside Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque Wednesday, undertaken, it claimed, to dislodge Palestinians who had barricaded themselves there.
In response to the rocket barrage, Israel Friday launched pre-dawn attacks upon southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, claiming to target positions of the Palestinian movement Hamas. The air raids began shortly before midnight in Gaza and lasted several hours. By Friday morning, a tense calm prevailed in the southern Lebanon areas affected by the strikes.