A rocket fired from Lebanon was intercepted near Israel’s economic center Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israel’s military said, in a rare attack far from the front lines of the conflict with Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli military, following the sirens that sounded in the Tel Aviv and Netanya areas, one surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing from Lebanon and was intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from the incident.
Since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas last October, Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has been actively involved in launching hundreds of rockets and drones from Lebanon targeting northern Israel. This missile intercept incident comes in the wake of Israeli strikes that targeted the militant group, resulting in the deaths of more than 500 people across Lebanon. Monday marked the deadliest day in Lebanon in nearly two decades.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group responsible for the rocket attacks, has not yet issued a statement regarding the attempted attack on Tel Aviv. Despite the security concerns, flights at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport continued to operate as usual, as confirmed by the airport’s spokesperson.
Sirens were heard in the central city of Netanya on Wednesday for the first time since October 7, 2023, according to Israeli authorities. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region and the persistent threat posed by militant groups operating in the area.
