After heavy shelling – Israel strikes targets in Lebanon and Gaza
Smoke and fire rise after an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City
Source: dpa/Adel Hana
Israel reacts to the heavy rocket fire from Lebanon: The army carries out airstrikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, including on weapons factories of the Islamist Hamas. Meanwhile, there was another rocket alarm in southern Israel.
Nfter heavy shelling by suspected militant Palestinian organizations from Lebanon, Israel’s army attacked targets in Lebanon in the early hours of the morning. The Israeli military announced this on Twitter on Friday. According to media reports, there were explosions south of the city of Tyros. A Palestinian refugee camp is said to be nearby.
The army also attacked targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday night. The army said fighter jets had bombed, among other things, weapons factories belonging to the Islamist Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip. It was initially unclear whether there were injuries or even deaths. According to Palestinian media and eyewitnesses, explosions could be heard and smoke seen over the coastal enclave.
Defense Minister Joav Galant had previously instructed the military to prepare for “any possible response to recent events.” In the meantime, a rocket alarm had been triggered in the Israeli border area with the Gaza Strip, the army said. Palestinian eyewitnesses said shells and rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel after the Israeli bombardment. It was initially unclear which militant group was behind the attacks.
According to the army, 34 rockets had been fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory on Thursday afternoon – the most violent escalation on the border since the confrontation between the radical Islamic Hezbollah militia and Israel in the Lebanon war in 2006. 25 of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, five struck in Israeli territory. The rest are still being determined. Residents near the border in northern Israel went to shelters and at least two people were injured.
Netanyahu threatens to crack down
The two neighboring countries are officially at war. There is always tension at the border. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Israeli army assumes that Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, or the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad are involved. “It is definitely a Palestinian fire,” said a spokesman on Thursday evening. The Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah was probably not directly involved. Iran’s participation is being examined.
Lebanese security circles said that mostly so-called Katyusha rockets were shot down. These have also been used before by Palestinian factions in the region against Israel.
Smoke rises after rockets were fired from Lebanon at Bezet in northern Israel
Those: dpa/Fadi Amun
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced massive retaliation for repeated rocket attacks on his country. Israel’s enemies would pay “a heavy price,” Netanyahu said early Friday morning after a meeting with his security cabinet.
The internal debate in Israel will not stop the country from taking action against the country’s enemies “anywhere, anytime,” Netanyahu said. The prime minister was referring to a judicial reform pushed by the right-wing religious government, which has been dividing Israeli society for weeks. Israeli President Izchak Herzog said: “The State of Israel will act at all levels to ensure its security.” At the same time, he called on the international community to strongly condemn the attacks.
The United States criticized the missile launch and pledged support. “Our commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering, and we recognize Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression,” said US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel.
A further deterioration in the security situation is feared
The escalation was preceded by Israeli police clashes with Palestinians on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem. According to media reports, police used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to remove Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque for two nights in a row. A police spokeswoman said young people had previously thrown firecrackers and stones at police officers and tried to barricade themselves in the mosque.
The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there. Violent confrontations are frequent in the area around the mosque.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police in Jerusalem were preparing for the third Friday of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan. Around 2,300 emergency services are deployed, a spokeswoman said in the evening. Accordingly, thousands of Muslims are again expected for Friday prayers on the Temple Mount. “We will continue to take action against anyone who disturbs public order,” the police said.
A particularly large number of Muslims are currently coming to the Temple Mount to pray there during the month of fasting. The week-long Jewish Passover festival also began on Wednesday. One of the customs is a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In addition, several celebrations over Easter in the old town are imminent.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.