Reports describe a day of intensified hostilities in the northern part of Israel, with rocket fire directed from across the border in Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli strikes following the assault. The events unfolded as a number of missiles reached the Galilee region, prompting emergency alerts and urgent responses from security forces.
Official accounts from the Israel Defense Forces indicate that at least 34 rockets were launched toward Western and Upper Galilee, territories that abut Lebanon in the north. The Iron Dome air defense system intercepted 25 of these projectiles, while five landed inside Israeli territory. Details on four additional rockets were later clarified by authorities. The air raid alert sounded around 14:30 Moscow time, signaling the onset of the barrage. Nearby communities reported casualties, including a shrapnel wound near Maalot-Tarshiha and injuries to a man and a woman as they sought shelter. A second woman was described as being in shock.
News agencies provided varying attributions for the attack. Reuters cited Palestinian groups as responsible, but stated that Lebanon-based Hezbollah did not participate in the strike and did not specify which Palestinian factions were involved. Subsequent reports from RT Arabic, citing Lebanese security services, noted the existence of rocket launchers on Lebanese soil that fired toward Israel, while Lebanon opened an investigation to identify the actors behind dozens of launches. Information from the Lebanese authorities described the discovery of missile facilities in southern Lebanon used for the strikes.
Eyewitnesses in Israel characterized the assault as the strongest since the 2006 confrontation with Hezbollah, and some noted initial failures in the alert system. In response, the Israeli military conducted air strikes on targets inside Lebanese territory, though details about the results were not immediately provided. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with security and law enforcement leadership to coordinate the response and ensure civilian safety.
These events occurred amid a broader pattern of confrontations between Israeli security forces and Muslim communities within the country. On the night of April 5, clashes occurred at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem as police confronted Palestinian worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan. Masked youths barricaded themselves inside the mosque and urged resistance, leading to police deployment. During the confrontation, projectiles were exchanged, and some police officers were injured. Palestinian reports described the use of sound bombs, tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons in the mosque clearance operation.
Following the mosque incident, unrest spread to other parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Local and regional media reported mass detentions and injuries, with hundreds affected by the clashes. In the wake of the mosque raid, Hezbollah pledged a response and subsequent rocket salvos from the Gaza Strip triggered Israeli retaliatory actions. The episode drew sharp condemnations from a range of Muslim leaders and governments, who criticized what they saw as heavy-handed measures against worshippers. Turkish authorities labeled the police actions as terrible, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the police operation as terrorism. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid escalation to prevent further harm to civilians.
Across the region, analysts note a continuing cycle of escalation that risks widening the conflict and drawing in additional actors. Observers emphasize the importance of de-escalation efforts and clear communication among military and political leaders to protect civilian lives and maintain regional stability. The day’s events underscore how rapid shifts in priority and action can unfold as factions on both sides reassess threats and responses in a volatile security environment. Attribution: reports compiled from Reuters and RT Arabic with country-specific updates