Israeli army claims to have intercepted rockets over Tel Aviv in central Israel

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army on Tuesday claimed to have intercepted rockets fired from Lebanon toward the Tel Aviv area in central Israel, along with more rockets fired on northern Israel.

According to the Israeli Channel 12, the Israeli army intercepted three rockets over Tel Aviv, while a fourth one landed in an open area.

The Israeli army said the air-raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and its surroundings following the rocket firing.

Israeli Channel 13 quoted a statement by the Israeli army, saying it detected the firing of 20 rockets from Lebanon toward Tel Aviv and northern Israel.

No casualties were reported from the rocket firing.

Israeli media, however, reported material damage in the Ma'agan Kibbutz, south of Haifa, claiming that it was from an interceptor missile.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group, for its part, said it struck with rockets the Glilot base of the Israeli army's military intelligence unit 8200 near Tel Aviv.

The group also separately announced striking a naval base in northwestern Haifa, northern Israel with rockets.

The Israeli army earlier conducted overnight airstrikes on several areas in Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburb, claiming to have hit Hezbollah facilities.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since Sept. 23 against what it says are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed and more than 11,500 others injured in Israeli attacks since last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 this year by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar