Photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows the damaged glass facade of a building in a rocket attack in Israel's northern town of Shlomi. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon.
In the latest attack, three mortar shells were fired at the city of Metula in northern Israel, causing no injuries. They were launched from the Blue Line demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli military said in a statement.
Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military.
It was one of the worst rocket attacks at northern Israel since a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese group in Lebanon, in 2006.
"The fire from Lebanon is very serious, and it testifies to a multi-front but single-organization, Palestinian-Hamas event," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a brief to journalists.
"We are examining it, but one thing is clear: Lebanon is responsible if rockets are fired from it," he said, adding that Israel is also investigating if Iran was involved in the attack.
In response to Lebanese media reports about Israel's shelling of the Lebanese town of al-Qulayla, Hagari said that Israel has "not responded in Lebanon; there was no IDF artillery fire in Lebanon."
Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said in a statement that two persons were injured and needed hospital care.
The Israeli Security Ministry called an urgent meeting of the chiefs of Israel's security agencies, according to a statement issued by the ministry. Later on Thursday, Israel's security Cabinet is expected to convene to discuss possible military responses to the rocket fire.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which oversees the Israel-Lebanon border, expressed concerns about a further escalation in the region. "The current situation is extremely serious. UNIFIL urges restraint and to avoid further escalation," it said in a statement.
The incident came after two consecutive days of Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem's Old City, during which Israeli police fired gas canisters and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers. ■
Photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows the damaged glass facade of a building in a rocket attack in Israel's northern town of Shlomi. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
An Israeli police bomb disposal unit deals with remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Shlomi, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (JINI via Xinhua)
An Israeli police bomb disposal unit deals with remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Shlomi, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (JINI via Xinhua)
An Israeli police bomb disposal unit deals with remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Shlomi, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (JINI via Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police bomb disposal unit work by the remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Fassuta, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police bomb disposal unit work by the remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Fassuta, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police bomb disposal unit work by the remains of a rocket in Israel's northern town of Fassuta, on April 6, 2023. Israel on Thursday accused Hamas, a Palestinian armed movement ruling the Gaza Strip, of being behind a rocket attack launched at northern Israel from Lebanon. Earlier in the afternoon, a barrage of 34 rockets was fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the Galilee area in northern Israel. About 25 rockets were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense systems, while five landed inside Israel, according to the Israeli military. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
