|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Northern Israel faced a series of alarming cross-border attacks on Saturday as drones and rockets launched from Lebanon targeted the region, intensifying tensions with Hezbollah. The incidents, which prompted widespread sirens and emergency responses, resulted in fires and infrastructure disruptions, though no casualties were reported.
Drone Strikes in Nahariya and Yaara
In the early hours of Saturday, a drone launched from Lebanon struck a residential home in Nahariya, a city in northern Israel. The strike caused a fire in the Achziv area, which local emergency services quickly worked to extinguish. Nearby in Yaara, another drone strike resulted in a fire breaking out in a building, according to Israeli media.
These attacks followed earlier attempts by Hezbollah to penetrate Israeli airspace with two drones launched at 8:18 a.m. and 8:21 a.m. The Israel Air Force (IAF) intercepted both drones, preventing further damage. However, the regional council of Meta Asher reported electricity outages in the Western Galilee area due to the interceptions.
Rocket Barrages Escalate Hostilities
The situation escalated later in the morning when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported multiple waves of rocket fire from Lebanon. Between 9:58 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., approximately 20 rockets were launched into the Western Galilee region, with several intercepted by Israel’s defense systems.
An hour later, another barrage of 35 rockets crossed into Israeli territory, striking open areas in Haifa Bay and the Galilee. While many projectiles landed in uninhabited zones, their impact heightened fear and disruption among residents.
Emergency Services Respond to Fires and Damage
The ongoing strikes caused significant damage to infrastructure and triggered fires in affected areas. Firefighters and emergency teams were dispatched to contain blazes in Nahariya, Yaara, and Achziv. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising above the Western Galilee, underscoring the severity of the attacks.
Warnings and Precautions for Residents
Sirens wailed across northern Israel to alert residents of incoming projectiles and the risk of falling shrapnel. Authorities in the Western Galilee urged citizens to remain indoors and follow safety protocols as tensions showed no signs of abating.
Hezbollah’s Role and Regional Implications
The attacks are part of a broader escalation involving Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group with close ties to Iran. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for numerous incidents targeting Israel in recent weeks, marking a significant uptick in cross-border hostilities.
Israeli military officials have vowed to respond decisively to any further aggression from Lebanon. The attacks come amid heightened regional instability, raising concerns about the potential for a broader conflict.
Continued Vigilance
As emergency services work to restore normalcy in affected areas, the IDF remains on high alert, closely monitoring developments along the northern border. With no casualties reported, the focus remains on minimizing damage and safeguarding residents.
This latest escalation underscores the fragility of the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border, with fears that further provocations could ignite a wider confrontation.