Smoke and fire rise from a fire that broke out from missiles fired from Lebanon, outside Kibbutz Shamir, northern Israel, Aug. 15, 2024. (Photo: Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
Hezbollah launched over 50 rockets in two barrages at Israel’s northern communities early Sunday morning, the IDF stated.
The first barrage of around 20 rockets, took place between 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., with most of the Hezbollah rockets targeting the town of Kiryat Shmona. While the majority of the projectiles were reportedly intercepted by the Iron Dome air defenses, two impacts were detected in the city. One rocket hit a building in Kiryat Shmona, while a second struck a sidewalk. Both rockets caused significant damage but no injuries were reported.
The second barrage, at around 5:30 a.m., consisted of around 30 rockets targeting Shamir, a kibbutz in the northern Galilee region. Shamir is about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) from the Lebanese border. Unlike other communities in northern Israel, Shamir has not been officially evacuated.
According to the IDF, several of the rockets were intercepted, while others landed in open areas. There were no reported injuries.
Hezbollah claimed the barrages were a response to an Israeli strike in the town of Faroun, which resulted in the deaths of three Lebanese paramedics. The IDF stated that it eliminated a terrorist belonging to the Amal terrorist group who was in a Hezbollah military structure in Faroun.
“In support of our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to back up their brave and honorable resistance, and in response to the enemy’s attacks on the southern villages and safe homes – particularly the attack that targeted medical teams in the town of Faroun, which led to the martyrdom and injury of civil defense personnel – the Islamic Resistance launched a barrage of rockets on the Kiryat Shmona settlement,” read the Hezbollah statement.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health claimed: “Israeli forces targeted a team from the Lebanese Civil Defence as they responded to fires sparked by recent Israeli airstrikes.”
The Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar news agency in Lebanon reported IDF strikes in Aiaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Yaroun, Khiam, Deir Mimas, and Tallouseh following the initial round of rockets.
The IDF Home Front Command held a situational assessment early on Sunday morning to decide whether to cancel classes in Israel’s northern communities following the rocket barrages.
On Saturday evening, several drones crossing into Israeli territory from Lebanon were detected and intercepted by the IDF.
The IDF also targeted rocket launchers in the Einta area of southern Lebanon following rocket launches on Saturday aimed at the Safed region.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in tit-for-tat, cross-border fire since Hezbollah began firing at Israel in support of Hamas terrrorists on Oct. 8.
