Israel fired dozens of artillery shells overnight Monday at targets in southern Lebanon, two hours after a rocket had been fired from there, which landed in an open field in the Galilee.
Residents in the area heard the explosion caused by the rocket but no warning rocket alert siren was activated. Some said they had not been able to reach shelters on time.
2 View gallery
IDF artillery shells southern Lebanon after a rocket was launched at the western Galilee
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The IDF said that the sirens were not used because the projectile was predicted to land in an unpopulated are.
No special emergency measures were in place and residents could go about their routines, the military said.
Security officials said the military had been expecting Palestinian factions in Lebanon to fire rockets, in a show of solidarity with protesters on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as they had done in the past.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket fire, but Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav, the military spokesman, told Army Radio that he assumed the rocket was launched by Palestinian militants in Lebanon spurred on by the recent events in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
2 View gallery
IDF artillery shells southern Lebanon after a rocket was launched at the western Galilee
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Residents told Ynet that they were not instructed to take any special action. "We are now just trying to remain calm," one resident said.
The last time rockets fired from Lebanon landed in Israel was in August 2021, when 19 projectiles targeted the meeting of Israeli, Lebanese and Syrian borders in Har Dov.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted most of those rockets, while others landed in open areas causing no injuries or damage. Then too, the IDF responded by firing artillery rounds towards the source of fire.
Associated Press contributed to this report
First published: 07:50, 04.25.22