According to Israel, Palestinian groups living in Lebanon were behind the rocket attacks, not the influential Hezbollah group, Reuters reports.
Riikka Kajander,
Antti Haavisto
6.4. 20:19•Updated 0:54
According to the Israeli army, up to 34 rockets were fired from the Lebanese side on two occasions on Thursday. The army has managed to repel 25 of them. At least five of the rockets have hit Israel.
It is the largest attack from Lebanon to Israel since 2006.
According to the sources of the news agency Reuters, Israel believes that the Palestinian groups living in Lebanon were behind the attacks, and not the influential Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.
Israeli Foreign Minister So Cohen stated in his tweet that Israel will take all measures to defend itself from rocket attacks.
– The first day of Pesach [juutalaisten pääsiäistä]. While we are sitting at the festive table with our families and friends, rockets are being fired at Israel, from the south and the north. This is no accident, Cohen said.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu on the other hand, stated in his televised speech late on Thursday that the country will respond to the attacks with force.
– We will strike at our enemies, and they will pay for all their aggressive actions, Netanyahu said.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee blame On Twitter (you will switch to another service) Hamas for the rockets fired at Israel from the Lebanese side.
Hamas is the Palestinian extremist organization that administers the Gaza Strip.
UN: The situation is “very serious”
According to Lebanese sources, Israel has responded to the rockets with artillery fire, says the media company Al Jazeera (switch to another service).
The Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes on Gaza late Thursday night. It has been reported that at least two explosions were heard from the Gaza Strip, but the target of the attacks is currently unknown.
Tensions in Israel have risen since the country’s police clashed with Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday.
Poland’s ambassador to Israel shared a map of the targets of the attacks on Twitter.
In a written statement, the UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon described the situation as “very serious” and urged them to refrain from attacks, reports Reuters.
Chief of the Peacekeeping Forces Aroldo Lazaro has been in contact with the authorities of both parties.
Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati condemned the strikes and said Lebanon would not accept the use of its soil for destabilizing operations.
Story updated on April 7, 2023 at 00:07: Added Benjamin Netanyahu and Najib Mikati’s comments.
Story updated on April 7, 2023 at 12:52 a.m.: Added information about airstrikes carried out by the Israeli army.