New escalation between Israel and Hezbollah after hours of calm
Hezbollah fires thirty rockets at northern Israel, while Israeli aircraft target roads and bridges, including al-Dalafa bridge.
Hebrew media reported on Tuesday that 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel in two barrages, while the Israeli army carried out strikes targeting roads and bridges and destroyed al-Dalafa bridge located in the western Bekaa in the east of the country, following several hours of calm on the Lebanese front.
They stated that warning sirens sounded twice consecutively across wide areas of northern Israel, including the cities of Haifa and Acre, as well as the settlement of Nahariya, in addition to Haifa Bay.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that “about 30 rockets were detected in two barrages from Lebanon toward the Krayot (Haifa area) and northern towns,” stressing that “multiple interceptions were observed in the Haifa Bay area following rocket fire from Lebanon.”
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the rocket fire from Lebanon came after about 10 hours of calm, adding: “There is an initial report of impacts (rockets) in the Krayot,” without further details.
For its part, The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli military confirmed that air defense systems intercepted most of the rockets, with no immediate reports of impacts in residential areas. The Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom said it had received no reports of injuries.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health announced the death of eight people and the injury of 11 others in ongoing Israeli strikes on the country, according to an official statement.
The Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the ministry, said in a press release that “an Israeli enemy strike on the town of Bchamoun in the Aley district of Mount Lebanon resulted in three deaths, including a three-year-old girl, and four injuries.”
It added that strikes on towns in the Tyre district resulted in two deaths and five injuries in Selaa, three deaths in Srifa, and two injuries in Aitit.
Israeli fighter jets carried out raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs as well as several areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the eastern parts of the country, with strikes also extending to regions in Mount Lebanon.
In the latest developments of the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli Defense Minister said on Tuesday that the Israeli army would take control of the remaining bridges over the Litani River in Lebanon and the area south of the river, just minutes after the Israeli army destroyed al-Dalafa bridge.
The United Nations expressed concern over Israel’s intention to demolish what remains of homes in villages and towns in southern Lebanon adjacent to northern Israeli settlements, stating that “such operations may amount to war crimes.” This was mentioned in a statement issued Tuesday by the United Nations human rights office.
The statement noted that Israeli remarks about demolishing homes in frontline villages in southern Lebanon raise “serious concern.”
It stressed the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law, adding that “such operations may amount to war crimes.”
Katz had announced on March 22 that he had instructed the army to accelerate the demolition of remaining homes in border villages and towns adjacent to northern Israeli settlements, including the towns of Adaisseh, Kfarkela, Mays al-Jabal, and Aitaroun.
