Hezbollah launches rocket barrage at northern Israel's Upper Galilee

Multiple rocket alerts sounded across northern Israel after approximately 30 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon, most of which were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array, Israel's military announced on Sunday morning. 

One projectile landed in the area of Beit Hillel, and several fell in open areas, the IDF added. 

Shortly after, the Israel Air Force struck the Hezbollah launcher from which the projectiles were sent and hit additional terrorist infrastructure in the area of Marjaayoun in southern Lebanon. 

Lebanese media reported the IAF attacked two locations in the Al-Mahmoudiya region in southern Lebanon.

Some cities and towns where the sirens were heard included Kiryat Shmona, Metualla, Beit Hillel, HaGoshrim, and Kfar Yuval.  Social media footage showed a barrage of rockets crossing into the Upper Galilee from Lebanon in the early hours of Sunday as dozens of rockets were launched at the area. 

יירוטים במטח הרקטות האחרון לעבר קריית שמונה והסביבה@rubih67 (צילום: 27א') pic.twitter.com/ajIdamKilg

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 3, 2024

There were no reports of casualties from the barrage. However, KAN news reported that a fire broke out in the moshav of Beit Hillel due to the launch. 

On Saturday evening before the barrage, The Kiryat Shmona municipality told its residents to stay near safe rooms due to IDF military operations in the area and to reduce movement in the city.

Heightened tensions in the Middle East 

The barrage comes as tension remains high between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah after Israel killed Hezbollah's military commander, Fuad Shukr, last week.

Israel's strike on Shukr came following a Hezbollah rocket launch last Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children from the Druze town of Majdal Shams. 

In addition, Iran has vowed to attack Israel directly following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday last week.