Lebanon Rockets Hit Israel, Prompting Military Response (Video)

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Air raid sirens wailed in northern Israel Wednesday as rockets were fired from neighboring Lebanon and Israeli forces responded with artillery fire.

The clashes came on the first anniversary of last year’s August 4 explosion in Lebanon’s capital Beirut killing hundreds and injuring thousands.

Israel’s military said two rockets landed inside Israeli territory and added that it fired artillery back into Lebanon.

Another rocket exploded in an open area, and another was intercepted by Israel’s defense system, known as the Iron Dome, officials said.

The rockets were launched by Palestinian groups based in Lebanon and not the notorious militant Hezbollah group, Israel’s military stressed.

However, commentators said it’s unlikely that Palestinian groups could operate without Hezbollah’s consent.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the rocket fire from Lebanon. “Israel has the right to defend itself against such attacks,” he told reporters in Washington.

U.S. URGING DE-ESCALATION

Price added that the United States would remain engaged with partners “in the region to de-escalate the situation.”

Israel’s Magen David Adom national ambulance service said there were no casualties on the Israeli side of the hilly frontier, where rockets ignited a brush fire.

Separately the Lebanese army said Israeli retaliatory attacks, which extended to several villages in south Lebanon, had led to a fire in the town of Rashaya al-Fokh. It was investigating to find out who had fired the rockets from Lebanon.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon urged both sides to show restraint.

The border had been mostly quiet since Israel fought a 2006 war against Hezbollah, which has advanced rockets.

But Palestinian factions in Lebanon have fired sporadically on Israel in the past, and two rockets were launched at Israel on July 20, causing no damage or injuries. Israel responded to that incident with artillery fires as well.

MORE TENSIONS REPORTED

While no casualties were reported, Wednesday’s violence underscored broader tensions in the region.

Israel has accused Iran of supporting Islamic terror groups targeting the Jewish state and its interests.

Wednesday’s violence followed Israel’s efforts for global action against Iran over a deadly attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off Oman last week.

“We are working to rally the world, but at the same time, we also know to act alone,” said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

The United States, Britain, and Israel blamed Iran for the suspected drone strike last Thursday in which two crew members, a Briton and a Romanian, were killed. Tehran denies any involvement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken predicted a “collective response” to the incident, which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described as an “outrageous attack on commercial shipping.”

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