Israel Strikes Lebanon After Barrage of Militia Rockets
The Israel-Lebanon border area witnessed its most intense hostilities since 2006 on Thursday and Friday, with Israeli fighter jets attacking targets in southern Lebanon in retaliation for a rocket attack on northern Israel. Gaza also saw an exchange of fire. The exchange represents a troubling new escalation of regional warfare that erupted Tuesday night, after Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque, smashing windows and brutally beating worshippers who’d locked themselves inside. They arrested hundreds more who’d stayed on the compound after Israel-specified visiting hours.
Al Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam, and it’s situated on land also revered by Jews, who call it the Temple Mount. Israel’s actions sparked outrage across the Muslim world, garnering condemnations from the governments of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Soon after the Israeli police raid, militants in Gaza fired rockets at southern Israel, most of which were reportedly intercepted by the US-subsidized Iron Dome system. Israel responded with air force strikes on Gaza.
Thursday brought warfare on a different frontier and with higher intensity, as northern Israel faced a barrage of 34 rockets fired from southern Lebanon. An Israeli military source told that mortars were also fired across the frontier. It’s said to be the largest such attack from the territory since 2006 and Israel’s war with the Lebanese political and militant group Hezbollah. While Israel said most of the rockets were intercepted, others caused moderate damage in the northern border town of Shlomi. There were several injuries, but no reported fatalities.
Shortly after midnight local time, Israeli jets struck targets in Gaza. Israeli officials said 10 targets there included Hamas tunnels and weapons-manufacturing facilities. However, it’s also been reported that the Al-Durra Children’s Hospital was damaged by shrapnel. The Gaza Ministry of Health said patients were terrified. Using both aircraft and tanks, Israel next blasted buildings in Lebanon that it said were used by Hamas. De-escalation will also require moderation of Israel’s actions against Palestinians observing Ramadan.
