Israel Strikes Lebanon After Rocket Attack From Militias: 2 injured
Israel launched air strikes on Friday in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, saying it was targeting the Palestinian group Hamas in retaliation for several dozen rockets fired at Israel from both territories. The strikes were launched around 4 am (0100 GMT), hitting both the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, an Israeli army statement said.
It is the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. Tensions have soared between Israel and Palestinians during what is both the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, prompting international calls for restraint.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said more than 30 rockets had been fired from Lebanese territory into Israel in the largest escalation on the northern border since Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006. Hours before Israel launched the air strikes into southern Lebanon, several missiles were fired from Gaza towards Israel.
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, had on Thursday rejected any “escalation” from his country after the rocket attack. Israeli emergency services reported one man lightly wounded by shrapnel and a woman injured while running to a shelter during the attack.
