2 Israelis injured in rocket fire from southern Lebanon

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) — Two Israelis were injured in rocket fire from southern Lebanon on Thursday amid rising tensions along the border, local police said.

Several cars and a store were damaged when at least one rocket landed in a shopping area in the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, according to a police statement.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said two people sustained shrapnel wounds in the attack.

Gaza-based Palestinian group Hamas had earlier claimed responsibility for launching 12 rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel, saying the rocket fire was "in response to massacres committed against civilians in Gaza."

Tension has flared along the border between Israel and Lebanon, with exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Lebanese group Hezbollah amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

This week, the Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the blockaded Palestinian enclave, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Nearly 10,600 people have been killed in the conflict, including 9,061 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

Besides the large number of casualties and displacement, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.