Team News Riveting
Four rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday afternoon amidst US President Joe Biden batting for peace in the region bu asking Israel to de-escalate.
“4 rockets were just fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, one of which was intercepted by the Iron Dome,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a tweet. In response, IDF artillery forces are striking a number of targets in Lebanon, it said, adding: “We are prepared for any scenario on any front.”
No injuries or damage were reported. Two people were lightly hurt when they fell while running to bomb shelters, reports said.
According to the IDF, one of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. A second landed in an open field in the area of the Arab Israeli town of Shfaram, and two landed out at sea, the military said.
The IDF said artillery cannons were striking “a number of targets in Lebanese territory” in response to the attack on Wednesday. Lebanese media reported that Israeli jets were seen flying over southern Lebanon.
Lebanese media reported that the rockets were fired from the village of Seddiqine, near the city of Tyre, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israeli northern coast.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel was pursuing a policy of deterring the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers from launching attacks but did not rule out a further escalation, including “conquering” the Palestinian enclave.
Netanyahu gave a briefing to some 70 foreign diplomats at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, where he filled them in on the situation after over a week of fighting that has seen Gaza terror groups rain rockets down on Israel, which has responded with pounding airstrikes on Gaza.
Meanwhile, in a new phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, US President Joe Biden tells the Israeli leader that he expects “a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” according to a White House statement.
“The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States,” the statement added.