TELAVIV Rockets and missiles were fired into Israeli territory by the armed forces this Tuesday, the 10th Israel on alert due to the risk of a confrontation with the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollahan ally of Iran in the north of the country.
According to the Israeli army, 15 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the Galilee, triggering warning sirens in several cities. Four projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, while the rest hit open terrain, causing no damage or injury.
At least one of those shots was an antitank missile claimed by Hezbollah. The Shiite group dominates southern Lebanon and Israeli authorities believe nothing will happen without their consent. In response, helicopters attacked three Hezbollah targets.
The border between Lebanon and Israel is becoming a focal point of tension. Photo: EFE / EFE
The Israeli army also bombed positions in Syria after Syrian mortars were fired over the Golan Heights they landed in remote areas and caused no damage. The risk of a confrontation with the Syrians and Lebanese militants is to open new war fronts and divide Israel’s attention. The government of Bashar alAssad, Hezbollah and Hamas are receiving unconditional support from Iran, which has the potential to escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
U.S. intelligence officials told The Washington Post that there were strong signs that Iran supported Saturday’s attack. In interviews, twelve analysts and military experts expressed surprise at the sophistication of the Hamas attack.
Although the group has a capable militia and its own rocket and drone assembly lines, an attack of this magnitude on Saturday would have been extremely difficult for Hamas without significant outside help. “The amount of training, logistics, communications, personnel and weaponry leaves an obvious mark,” said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA operations officer. “Given the complexity of the attack, this suggests Iranian involvement.”
Tehran denied direct involvement in the attack, but at the same time praised Hamas militants. “You have made the Islamic community happy with this innovative and successful operation,” Iranian news agency IRNA quoted President Ebrahim Raisi as saying.
U.S. intelligence officials also confirmed that Iran provided Hamas with technical assistance in producing 4,000 rockets and drones used on Saturday. At least some Palestinian militants were trained in Lebanese camps with observers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah paragliding attacks, for example, could only have been trained outside the Gaza Strip.
More than a thousand Israelis killed
The death toll in Israel from Saturday’s attack passed 1,000 yesterday with around 150 people kidnapped and being held hostage in Gaza. On the Palestinian side there are already more than 900 dead, including 260 children.
The Israelis have recovered the bodies of 1,500 Hamas terrorists on their territory, adding dimension to the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday agreed to calls for an additional 60,000 reservists, bringing the total mobilization to 360,000 troops a further indication that a ground invasion is imminent. /NYT, WP and AP