Dozens Of Rockets Pound Israel From Lebanon In Most Serious Escalation Since 2006 War

Dozens Of Rockets Pound Israel From Lebanon In Most Serious Escalation Since 2006 War

 TYLER DURDE

The prior days of clashes and tensions at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque are spiraling toward broader conflict in Gaza and along Israel's northern border as on Thursday afternoon a barrage of rockets was fired from Lebanon.

Rocket sirens have been sounding in the towns of Betzet and Shlomi in the Western Galilee, close to the border, while the IDF says its Iron Dome system intercepted at least one of the projectiles. There are emerging reports of at least person wounded by shrapnel on the Israeli side.

No group has claimed responsibility for the rockets, but Hezbollah is the prime armed group operating in southern Lebanon. Some reports say the rocket salvo was launched from Palestinian refugee camps, and thus might not have been approved by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group backed by Iran.

According to The Times of Israel, it's a likely directly response to the recent Israeli police raids on al-Aqsa Mosque during Muslim holy days: 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the launches came just hours after Lebanon’s Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah said it would support "all measures" Palestinian groups may take against Israel after clashes at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Axios is reporting an estimate of "between 25-30 rockets" launched, according to defense officials.

"Most were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, the Israeli military said. At least one rocket fell in the town of Shlomi in northern Israel," the report continues.

Israel is also observing an important holiday, namely the first day of the Passover festival. The current tensions began Tuesday night, when Israeli police raided Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, brutally beating worshippers after declaring overnight prayers there unlawful. 

Outrage swept across Palestinian communities, sparking marches, confrontations with Israeli troops, and rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. The violence spiraled higher, as the Israeli Air Force bombed Gaza. 

Hamas then continued firing a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to the IDF. Violent clashes were also reported between Israeli forces and protesters in the country’s north.

Israel is reportedly now shelling southern Lebanon, and has scrambled air force jets to neutralize the attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also set to convene an emergency security meeting as the crisis escalates, which is already being called the most serious escalation since the 2006 war.

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