LEBANON AND ISRAEL STRIKES RAISE STAKES IN THE REGION

▶ Cross-border violence threatens to be biggest escalation between countries in a decade

Israel hit southern Lebanon with artillery fire on Thursday after rockets were fired across the border into Israel, in what could be the biggest escalation between the countries in a decade.

Shells were fired by Israel from the border, towards the outskirts of the villages of Qlaileh and Maaliyeh near the city of Sour, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese Army said “a number of rockets” were launched and tweeted that one of its units discovered missile launchers and rockets in Zibqin and Qlaileh.

A Lebanese security source confirmed the Israeli retaliation to The National, saying: “Yes, they fired at us.”

Israeli media reported that 30 rockets were fired within 15 minutes – the most significant security incident in southern Lebanon in years – after initially saying 100 were fired.

The Israeli military said it “identified 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory” and that 25 were intercepted.

“Five rockets landed in Israeli territory. Regarding the four additional launches, the information about their location is under review. The statistics are not final,” the Israeli military said. Lt Col Avichay Adraee, spokesman for the Israeli army, blamed Hamas in Lebanon for the rocket attacks.

The group’s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was in Lebanon to meet Hezbollah leaders when the rocket launches took place.

“We are also examining the possibility of Iran’s involvement,” Lt Col Adraee tweeted.

At least three people in Israel were injured, including one person who was treated for a minor shrapnel wound and a woman who suffered a panic attack, Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “receiving continuous updates about the security situation and will conduct an assessment with the heads of the security establishment”, his office said.

Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet met on Thursday evening.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Unifil, said it was aware of the reports and was responding. It said that

its personnel in the south of Lebanon had been asked to shelter in bunkers and called for restraint.

“The IDF informed Unifil that it had activated its Iron Dome defence system in response. Head of Mission and Force Commander Maj Gen Aroldo Lazaro is in contact with authorities on both sides of the

Blue Line,” the force said. A resident of a village about a 20-minute drive inland from Sour said members of his family heard the Israeli response, but were uninjured.

“It’s been like this [for] 50 years. It’s normal for us,” the resident, who spends weeknights in Beirut, told The National. The attacks came as Jews marked Passover and after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Islam’s third-holiest site, prompted warnings of retaliation from across the region.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, said the timing of the inbound rockets was “not a coincidence”.

“First day of Passover. As we sit at the holiday table, family and friends, Israel is facing rockets from south and north.

No one should test us, we will take all necessary measures to defend our country and people,” he wrote on Twitter.

Lebanon’s pro-Iran armed movement Hezbollah said on Thursday that it would support “all measures” Palestinian groups may take against Israel after the clashes.

The group denied being behind the rocket fire, suggesting Palestinian factions were responsible. “Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against Al Aqsa Mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful,” it said.

The UN urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint.

“The UN interim force in Lebanon remains in contact with authorities on both sides of the blue line and we urge the parties to liaise with our peacekeepers and avoid any unilateral action that could further escalate the situation,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Cross-border rocket attacks have been rare between Lebanon and Israel since the 2006 war with Hezbollah.

In April last year, Israel struck targets in Lebanon with artillery fire after a rocket was fired into Israel.