Fires caused by Hezbollah rockets threaten ‘strategic sites’ in Israel: Official

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Rockets launched by the Lebanese Hezbollah group at northern Israel posed a threat to “strategic sites” and facilities in the country, Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Wednesday, citing an Israeli official.

Fire and Rescue Services North District Commander Yair Elkayam noted that teams from the Fire Authority, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Israeli army are close to gaining control of fires in the northern Israeli towns of Biriya, Kadita, Ein Zeitim and Tziv'on.

The Israeli army announced late Wednesday that three fires broke out in northern Israel due the interception of suspicious aerial objects launched from Lebanon.

“Air defenses and fighter jets intercepted two suspicious aerial objects moments ago in the Mount Hermon area from Lebanon,” the army said on X.

"As a result of the interception operation's shrapnel, a fire broke out in the area, and sirens were activated according to standard procedure,” it added.

The statement also noted that “during the incident, another interception missile was launched towards the objects and exploded in the sky in the Safed area, where rocket shrapnel caused a fire in the vicinity.”

According to Israeli Army Radio, around 215 rockets and drones were fired by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon into northern Israel since Wednesday morning, in the largest attack since the outbreak of cross-border clashes between the two sides last October.

It followed the death of four Hezbollah fighters, including a senior commander, in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday night.

Tensions have flared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,200 people since last Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala