by Jerusalem Post Staff, Tal Spungin, Hanan Lischinsky
One Israeli injured by shrapnel, another while seeking shelter • Netanyahu to convene security cabinet this evening with top IDF officials
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Firefighters try to extinguish a fire caused after
a rocket fired from Lebanon hit near the Israeli town of Shlomi, April
6, 2023
(photo credit: FLASH90/FADI AMUN)
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Rocket sirens sounded across northern Israel on Thursday afternoon, during the Passover holiday, amid a barrage of rocket attacks launched across the northern border with Lebanon, the IDF confirmed.
A single rocket launched from Lebanese territory was successfully shot down by the Iron Dome air defense system. Minutes later, sirens sounded in dozens of northern Israeli towns and villages, especially in the western Galilee, amid a barrage of rockets from Israel's northern border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office sent out a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying the prime minister will hold a situational assessment with his security cabinet later on Thursday, including Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai. The security cabinet is expected to meet at 9:15 p.m.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said he was familiar with the details of the security situation in Israel's North, adding that initial orders were given to the IDF for a response. IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi later convened a meeting with the IDF General staff, with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar attending as well.
ראש המטה הכללי, רב-אלוף הרצי הלוי, וראש השב״כ, רונן בר, מקיימים כעת הערכת מצב משותפת עם פורום המטה הכללי בבסיס הקריה בתל אביב pic.twitter.com/WDgA1Id4VE
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 6, 2023
Defense Minister Gallant instructed the defense establishment to advance all options for an Israeli response, in preparation for the security cabinet meeting.
Gallant conducted a meeting with the heads of the security organizations, concerning the rocket fire in the last day from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. In addition, Gallant received an intelligence update on the latest developments in all arenas.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a meeting with heads of the security establishment, April 6, 2023. (credit: ARIEL HERMONI)The barrage included 34 rocket launches from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory, the IDF confirmed in a statement.
Of the 34 rockets, 25 were intercepted in the air, while five landed on Israeli territory. The location of four of the rockets is still under investigation.
Local residents reported hearing loud blasts echo across northern Israel, as red alerts sounded out in towns near the Lebanese border, including Matsuva, Shlomi, Hanita, Admit, Eylon, Hila, Rosh Hanikra and Arab al-Aramashe.
Firefighters
try to extinguish a fire caused after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit
near the Israeli town of Shlomi, April 6, 2023 (credit: FLASH90/FADI
AMUN)The rocket barrage from Lebanon comes amid increased tensions between Palestinians and Israeli security forces on Temple Mount, with clashes reported between armed Palestinians and Israeli police in al-Aqsa.
The Israeli Air Force also struck in Gaza on Wednesday in response to rockets fired from the Strip targeting southern Israel earlier this week.
One Israeli injured by shrapnel
One Israeli was reported lightly injured following the rocket barrage. Magen David Adom said the Israeli was hit by shrapnel, while another Israeli was injured on her way to a shelter and another suffering from PTSD.
Galilee Medical Center confirmed that one Israeli, a resident of the Druze village of Yanuh-Jat, was injured while riding a two-wheeler in an open field in the North.
As a result of the rockets that landed on Israeli territory, a number of fires broke out and are currently being extinguished, according to the Israel Fire and Rescue services.
The northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona issued a statement to its resident, urging caution amid the rocket barrage while reassuring them that the city's operations will be continued as planned.
The municipalities of Nahariya and Karmiel announced that they would open the public bunkers in the city, in preparation for possible events.
Following a situation assessment conducted in the municipality, the mayor of Ashkelon, directed the opening of shelters and bunkers throughout the city on Thursday evening, emphasizing that the move was intended to increase the sense of security among the residents and that there were no special instructions at this time.
UNIFIL responded to the rocket attack in a statement on Twitter: "Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro is in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line. The current situation is extremely serious. UNIFIL urges restraint and to avoid further escalation."
This is a developing story.
Jerusalem Post Staff, Tal Spungin, Hanan Lischinsky
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-738594
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