The Hezbollah terror group fired at least 50 rockets at northern Israel in the predawn hours of Sunday, with the Israel Defense Forces saying it shot down several of the projectiles as others hit open areas.
The barrage, one of the heaviest since the start of hostilities in October, came amid a weekend of strikes by Israel on the Iran-backed terror group’s sites, including one far in the northeastern part of the country shortly after midnight on Sunday, that Hezbollah said prompted the rocket fire in response.
Israel has been launching airstrikes deeper and deeper into Lebanese territory against Hezbollah positions for several weeks as the terror group steps up its attacks, heightening the threat of open warfare and an expansion of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip to Israel’s south.
The IDF on Sunday morning confirmed reports of an airstrike in the northern Lebanese city of Baalbek, saying its fighter jets targeted a Hezbollah weapons manufacturing plant.
It also confirmed Hezbollah’s claim to have fired a retaliatory barrage of rockets at northern Israel, saying it detected some 50 launches that crossed into Israeli territory. Hezbollah claimed to have fired 60 rockets, indicating several of the rockets fell short in Lebanon.
The IDF said several of the Hezbollah rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, while the rest struck open areas. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
Footage posted to social media showed the Iron Dome engaging the rocket barrage, as well as what appeared to be some of the projectiles striking Israel.
Earlier, Hezbollah said in a statement that in response to the “bombing of a place in the [northerneastern Lebanese] city of Baalbek” it targeted two army bases in northern Israel with more than 60 Katyusha rockets.
Can you say soon to be Isaiah 17:1
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