Middle East Conflict
Military: Dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon at Israel
A rocket damaged buildings in Shelomi, Israel, near the border with Lebanon. photo
© Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Tensions in the Middle East continue – for example on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. And rockets are being fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip and now from Lebanon.
After renewed unrest on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel was attacked by rockets from several sides on Thursday. According to the Israeli army, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon – for the first time in more than a decade and a half.
The national defense system Iron Dome intercepted 25 of a total of 34 missiles. Five rockets landed in Israeli territory. The whereabouts of four others are being checked. According to Israeli media reports, this was the heaviest shelling from Lebanon since 2006.
The two neighboring countries are officially at war. There is always tension at the border. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Israeli army assumes that Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, or the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad are involved. “It is definitely a question of Palestinian fire,” said a spokesman in the evening. The Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah was probably not directly involved. Iran’s participation is being examined.
Lebanese security circles said that mostly so-called Katyusha rockets were shot down. These have also been used before by Palestinian factions in the region against Israel. Defense Minister Joav Galant instructed the military to prepare for “all possible reactions to the recent events”. A meeting of the security cabinet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was planned for the evening.
According to the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom, at least two people were slightly injured in the north of the country. A 19-year-old suffered a minor injury from shrapnel. A 60-year-old injured herself on the way to a shelter. Others should have been treated for stress symptoms.
UN mission: “The situation is very serious”
According to Lebanese reports, Israel’s artillery fired on targets in the border area in response. Around 20 grenades are said to have been fired. Israel’s military did not confirm this. The UN peacekeeping mission Unifil called on both sides to de-escalate. “The situation is very serious,” the organization said. The Unifil blue helmets have been monitoring the border area between Israel and Lebanon since 1978.
On the Lebanese side, Hezbollah, which is closely allied with Iran, is particularly active there. The militia sees Israel as an archenemy. She said she supported all “measures” taken by Palestinian groups following clashes with police on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Hezbollah also has close ties to Hamas, which rules Gaza.
Earlier this morning, Palestinians fired several rockets from the coastal strip into Israeli territory. The army said seven rockets exploded in mid-air. Five of them were aimed at Israeli territory, two at the Mediterranean Sea.
The United States condemned the launching of rockets into Israel and pledged support. “Our commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering, and we recognize Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression,” said US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel.
Riots on the Temple Mount
This was preceded by clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians on the Temple Mount. According to media reports, police used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to remove Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque for two nights in a row. A police spokeswoman said young people had previously thrown firecrackers and stones at police officers and tried to barricade themselves in the mosque.
The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. According to the Israeli police, it is generally forbidden to stay there at night. Many Palestinian believers see their right to practice their religion restricted. The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. However, it is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples used to stand there.
Violent confrontations are frequent in the area around the mosque. Around two years ago, the situation escalated into an eleven-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Passover, Ramadan and Easter at the same time
Before the start of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, around two weeks ago, there were fears that the already tense security situation in the country would deteriorate. A particularly large number of Muslims are currently coming to the Temple Mount to pray there during the month of fasting. The week-long Jewish Passover festival also began on Wednesday. One of the customs is a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In addition, several celebrations over Easter in the old town are imminent.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.