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A rocket was fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on Sunday evening as tensions in the region persist. Israeli forces responded by hitting several targets in Lebanon with artillery shells. No group has claimed responsibility, but the IDF believes Palestinian factions were responsible. The rocket fire follows the launching of six rockets by Gaza-based terrorists over the last week – the most sustained rocket fire in a year.
There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the rocket, but IDF spokesman Ran Kochav believes it was launched by Palestinian factions in Lebanon in response to the clashes during Ramadan and at Temple Mount. However, it is still unlikely that terrorists in southern Lebanon would be able to fire rockets, without at least strategic approval from Hezbollah, which maintains a strong grasp on the area.
Israeli forces stated on Monday morning that they shelled several targets in Lebanon, in response to a rocket that was fired from the area earlier in the night. The rocket fired into Israel landed close to the border near Kibbutz Matzuva. The rocket is not reported to have caused damage or injuries and the Israeli warning sirens were not sounded as the rocket landed within an open area. Hezbollah-linked media also reported on the launch, stating it had been fired from an area southeast of Tyre.
A spokesman from the IDF stated regarding the Israeli response that: “IDF artillery is now attacking targets in Lebanon and firing at the launch area in retaliation for the rocket fired into Israeli territory.” He went on to say that the launch area and an “infrastructure target” were hit with IDF artillery shells. No causalities have been reported from Lebanon.
The United Nations’ peacekeeping force along the Israel-Lebanon border has urged restraint.
