Workers at Haifa port in northern Israel get phone messages threatening to leave before being targeted

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Workers at the Haifa port in northern Israel received phone messages threatening that they leave before being targeted, Israeli media reported on Monday.

According to the Israeli daily Maariv, the message informed the recipients that the Haifa port's database had been hacked and that the port would be subjected to rocket attacks.

"We give you a short time to leave the port. It will be one of our rockets' targets," the message read.

The Haifa Port management confirmed the messages to the staffers but emphasized that the port's operations are normal in accordance with the Israeli army's Home Front directives.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks have targeted the Haifa area, including the port, with some evading Israeli army air defenses.

Earlier, the Israeli army claimed to have intercepted five drones launched from Lebanon over the Mediterranean Sea before they entered Israeli airspace.

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