ARAB AND WORLD
Sun 22 Sep 2024 9:37 am - Jerusalem Time
Hezbollah escalates attacks on Israel, Washington asks its citizens to leave Lebanon
Hezbollah has escalated its missile attacks on northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights by firing dozens of rockets, some of which targeted the Ramat David air base, while the occupation army confirmed that it intercepted most of Hezbollah's rockets amid Israeli readiness for a wider war.
Hezbollah said that the resistance targeted the Ramat David base with dozens of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles, and also targeted the Ramat David base and airport southeast of Haifa with dozens of missiles in response to the Israeli attacks.
He also confirmed later this morning that he had bombed the Ramat David base and airport for the second time with Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority confirmed that a missile fell near the Ramat David base, and Al Jazeera's correspondent reported hearing explosions in the Nahalal area adjacent to the Israeli Ramat David air base in Marj Bin Amer, east of Haifa.
Israel Hayom newspaper reported that five rocket salvoes totaling 30 were launched from southern Lebanon towards the Galilee and eastern Haifa. Channel 12 Israel confirmed that the total number of rockets launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel on Sunday night was about 30.
Suspension of schools
On the other hand, the newspaper Israel Hayom said that the Haifa Municipality decided to cancel school today, Sunday, in a number of towns southeast of the city, where sirens sounded today.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority also said that it was decided to cancel studies in Acre, Tiberias, Nahariya and Safed following the bombing of the north.
Injury and fires
Maariv newspaper quoted the Israeli ambulance as saying that there was one injury in the Lower Galilee as a result of Hezbollah missiles, while it stated that there were no injuries as a result of the shelling of the Yokneam and Afula areas and the Ramat David base.
On the other hand, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that some residents of the Kiryat Tiv'on settlement said that the shelters in which they tried to hide were closed.
Israel Hayom reported that firefighters were working to put out a fire that broke out near Migdal HaEmek, likely caused by interceptor missile fragments. The Marj Bin Amer Regional Council also said that a rocket had caused the fire in the area between Kfar Rauch and Yokneam.
Hot night
Al Jazeera's correspondent reported this morning, Sunday, that four rocket barrages were launched from southern Lebanon towards sites in the Galilee during the last two hours.
Earlier on Sunday morning, air raid sirens sounded non-stop in the occupied Syrian Golan and in several areas east and south of Haifa, after large barrages of rockets were fired from southern Lebanon.
Al Jazeera's correspondent also pointed to the launching of rockets from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee, and said that air raid sirens sounded in wide areas including the Galilee, the areas of Acre, Yokneam south of Haifa, Nazareth, Afula, Migdal HaEmek in Marj Ibn Amer, and Mount Carmel.
For its part, the Israeli occupation army announced the activation of air raid sirens in several areas in the north, after a large barrage of rockets was launched from southern Lebanon, and indicated that rockets or fragments of anti-rockets fell in 5 locations east of Haifa and that electricity was cut off in some areas.
He said that he monitored the launch of 10 rockets from Lebanon towards the north, most of which were intercepted and their fragments fell in open areas. Israeli media also reported that the "Iron Dome" intercepted rockets launched from Lebanon towards eastern Haifa and northern Tel Aviv, while the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that air defenses detected and intercepted 15 rockets launched from Lebanon.
No to breaking the rules
In turn, Israeli Channel 14 said that although Hezbollah's missile barrage was "light," its range puts hundreds of residents within range of targeting.
For its part, the Axios website said that Hezbollah's attack tonight is the most far-reaching in Israel since October 8, and quoted American officials as saying that things could easily get out of control and lead to a comprehensive war.
The New York Times also quoted sources as saying that Hezbollah was firing rockets at an unusual depth inside Israel.
On the other hand, Israeli Channel 12 said that Hezbollah is targeting military sites, not civilian sites, considering that it "does not want to break the rules," adding that it is not clear yet whether this is Hezbollah's response or just the beginning.
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The Israeli army said that the air force had again attacked Lebanon following the latest Hezbollah rocket barrage.
Al Jazeera's correspondent reported intensive flights of Israeli fighter jets and drones in the airspace of southern Lebanon.
Israeli meeting
Israel Hayom newspaper said that the security cabinet will hold a meeting again this afternoon, Sunday, to complete security consultations regarding developments on the Lebanese front.
The Israeli Walla website reported that the army launched raids on southern Lebanon as part of a strike that preempts the launching of hundreds of rockets at Israel. Meanwhile, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted a security source as saying yesterday, Saturday, that Hezbollah may attack within a day and we are facing 24 hours of tension.
The Lebanese Hezbollah party had threatened Israel with retribution in response to the bombings that targeted the communication devices of the party's fighters and the assassination of leaders in the Radwan unit in a raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
America and Leaving Lebanon
In a related context, the US State Department asked its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately as long as there are commercial flights, and the ministry warned in a statement that if things develop for the worse in Lebanon, there will be no commercial flights.
“Given the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent bombings throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial transportation options are available,” the State Department said in an update to its travel advisory for Lebanon.
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Hezbollah escalates attacks on Israel, Washington asks its citizens to leave Lebanon