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Northern Israel targeted by rocket fire from Lebanon, Syria
While southern and central Israel continues to face persistent rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, northern Israel has been targeted by rocket fire from Lebanon and Syria during the past 24 hours.
Late last night, three rockets from southern Lebanon exploded in the western Galilee region, landing in open territory and causing no injuries. However, the rocket attack did trigger warning sirens in northern towns and communities including Nahariya and Ma’alot. It was the third such incident in as many days. On Saturday night, two rockets landed north of Nahariya, again sending local residents hurrying for shelter. The IDF returned artillery shells at the source of fire. A similar incident occurred on Friday morning, when a rocket struck near the community of Kfar Yuval.
Southern Lebanon is dominated by Hezbollah, which has launched numerous attacks on Israel from the area, most notably in 2006 which precipitated the month-long Second Lebanon War. Hezbollah is known to possess an extensive arsenal of short and long-range rockets. However, it is thought that small radical groups are responsible for the attacks during the past three days, especially with Hezbollah heavily invested in the Syrian civil war.
Last night though, mortar fire from Syria also struck Israel, when a mortar shell landed on Israel’s Golan Heights with no injuries reported. The IDF responded with precision artillery fire at Syrian army positions. During the past several months, gun and mortar fire from Syria has struck Israel with some regularity and was responsible for killing a 14-year-old Israeli boy in June. Israeli security officials reportedly believe that last night’s attack was deliberate and not errant fire from the Syrian civil war. An Israeli army statement said, “The IDF views the Syrian regime as responsible for what is done in its territory.”
The rocket attacks from Lebanon and Syria underscore the multiple military and security challenges faced by Israel, as it enters day seven of Operation Protective Edge, in an attempt to quell rocket fire from Gaza.