Israel strikes targets in Lebanon after rocket fire from border
The cross-border escalation follows weeks of tensions building up in a contested area on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
BEIRUT — The Israeli army launched more than 15 artillery shells toward Lebanese territory on Thursday in response to two rockets fired from inside Lebanon toward northern Israel, state media outlets reported.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported early on Thursday that one rocket was fired from the locality of Bastra, between Kfarchouba and el-Mari in the south toward Israel.
According to security sources who spoke to Reuters, one rocket fell inside Lebanese territory in the village of Wazzani and the second in Israel close to the disputed village of Ghajar.
The Israeli army initially said it was aware of an explosion near Ghajar, saying it was caused by an old land mine. But after its forces headed to the site of the blast, an IDF statement explained, “It emerged that a launch was carried out from Lebanese territory that exploded adjacent to the border in Israeli territory.” The military responded by striking the area from which the rockets were launched.
