Israeli army says it intercepted aerial target in north amid growing clashes with Lebanese Hezbollah

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Monday said it had intercepted an aerial target in northern Israel amid a growing escalation in cross-border hostilities with Lebanese Hezbollah group.

In a statement, the Israeli army said its air defenses had intercepted "a suspicious aerial target" near the northern city of Acre after it crossed over from Lebanon.

No casualties were reported from the incident, which did not set off air raid sirens in the area, the army added.

The Lebanese side, Hezbollah in particular, has yet to comment on the incident.

On Sunday, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that since last Oct. 7, when the war in the Gaza Strip began, Lebanese Hezbollah has fired over 5,000 rockets, anti-tank missiles, and explosive UAVs into Israel.

On Sunday, the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, the Israeli army and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire across the border areas between them.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,000 people since last October following a Hamas attack.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar