IDF says over 50 rockets fired at north overnight; some damage

IDF says over 50 rockets fired at north overnight; some damage, no injuries

Emanuel Fabian

More than 50 rockets were launched from Lebanon at the Galilee Panhandle and Kiryat Shmona area overnight, the military said Sunday morning, with damage reported by no injuries.

First, some 20 rockets were fired at around 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., with the Israel Defense Forces reporting that most of the projectiles were intercepted by air defenses, although some impacted Kiryat Shmona, causing damage.

The terror group Hezbollah claimed responsibility, saying it targeted Kiryat Shmona in revenge for an Israeli strike Saturday in Lebanon that local officials claimed killed three emergency workers in the town of Froun.

The IDF said that at least two of those killed were members of the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement, and that they were operating out of a Hezbollah compound in Froun. Amal also claimed two of the people as its members.

According to the Kiryat Shmona municipality, one rocket scored a direct hit on an unspecified building while a second hit a sidewalk, with both causing extensive damage.

“There is damage to the building, to property, to infrastructure, and to a parked car,” the city said.

Crews scanned the city to find if there were any more impacts, but were impeded somewhat by the late-night darkness, the spokesperson said.

Then, at around 5:30 a.m., a barrage of another 30 rockets was fired from Lebanon, according to the military, which said that some were intercepted and the remainder hit open areas.

Hezbollah also took responsibility for this barrage as well, saying it fired a volley of Katyusha rockets at the community of Shamir, a kibbutz in the far eastern Galilee bordering the Golan Heights.

Unlike many other towns that usually come under rocket fire, Shamir has not been officially evacuated by the government. The kibbutz lies some nine kilometers (5.5 miles) from the Lebanese border.

Overnight attacks on northern Israel are relatively uncommon and often reflect an increase in tensions.

Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed reports that its fighter jets struck buildings used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon’s Aitaroun, Maroun al-Ras, and Yaroun overnight, releasing footage of the strikes.

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