Israel strikes Lebanon after anti-tank missile launched
Published: 04:11 PM,Nov 12,2023 | EDITED : 08:11 PM,Nov 12,2023
White phosphorus fired by Israeli army is seen on the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel. — Reuters
JERUSALEM: Israeli forces fired artillery into southern Lebanon on Sunday after an incoming anti-tank missile wounded several Israelis near the border, an army spokesman said.
The Israeli army said 'a number of people were wounded' in the anti-tank missile strike near the village of Dovev, just 800 metres from the frontier with Lebanon.
'Artillery is striking the origin of the launch,' a statement said.
The Israel Electric Corporation said that the missile from Lebanon had 'hit employees' who were repairing power lines downed by earlier strikes.
Since the October 7, Israel has traded fire with groups in southern Lebanon on a near-daily basis.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's strike.
The Israeli army also said it had struck 'a cell embedded in a civilian area in Lebanon that intended to open fire toward Israeli territory'.
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said gunfire from an unidentified source hit a member of its contingent early on Sunday, adding that the peacekeeper was in a stable condition.
The statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) did not indicate whether the incident was linked to ongoing exchanges of fire on the Lebanese border with Israel.
'Shortly after midnight last night, peacekeepers in a UNIFIL position near Al-Qawzah reported hearing gunfire nearby,' force spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said in a statement.
Late last month, shelling lightly wounded a UN peacekeeper near the border village of Hula, just hours after UNIFIL said a shell hit its headquarters in Naqura near the Israel-Lebanon border.
'Attacks against civilians or UN personnel are violations of international law that may amount to war crimes,' the UNIFIL statement said.
'We continue to urge all parties involved to cease their fire,' it added.
On Sunday morning, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli aircraft and drones had carried out raids on border areas and also reported artillery shelling after midnight targeting sites including near Al-Qawzah, where the peacekeeper was wounded.
Israeli fire, some on targets in Syria, has killed at least 70 people since hostilities broke out. — AFP
The Israeli army said 'a number of people were wounded' in the anti-tank missile strike near the village of Dovev, just 800 metres from the frontier with Lebanon.
'Artillery is striking the origin of the launch,' a statement said.
The Israel Electric Corporation said that the missile from Lebanon had 'hit employees' who were repairing power lines downed by earlier strikes.
Since the October 7, Israel has traded fire with groups in southern Lebanon on a near-daily basis.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's strike.
The Israeli army also said it had struck 'a cell embedded in a civilian area in Lebanon that intended to open fire toward Israeli territory'.
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said gunfire from an unidentified source hit a member of its contingent early on Sunday, adding that the peacekeeper was in a stable condition.
The statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) did not indicate whether the incident was linked to ongoing exchanges of fire on the Lebanese border with Israel.
'Shortly after midnight last night, peacekeepers in a UNIFIL position near Al-Qawzah reported hearing gunfire nearby,' force spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said in a statement.
Late last month, shelling lightly wounded a UN peacekeeper near the border village of Hula, just hours after UNIFIL said a shell hit its headquarters in Naqura near the Israel-Lebanon border.
'Attacks against civilians or UN personnel are violations of international law that may amount to war crimes,' the UNIFIL statement said.
'We continue to urge all parties involved to cease their fire,' it added.
On Sunday morning, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli aircraft and drones had carried out raids on border areas and also reported artillery shelling after midnight targeting sites including near Al-Qawzah, where the peacekeeper was wounded.
Israeli fire, some on targets in Syria, has killed at least 70 people since hostilities broke out. — AFP