ISRAEL RESPONDS TO ROCKET ATTACK FROM LEBANON WITH AIR STRIKES AT GAZA

Israel strikes Gaza after rocket fire from Lebanon

 

By Barak Ravid

 

Axios

April 6, 2023

 

Israel launches air strikes on the central part of the Gaza Strip

 

The Israeli military launched air strikes on Gaza just after midnight local time after a barrage of rockets was fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel earlier Thursday.

The big picture: It's the most serious escalation between Lebanon and Israel since the 2006 war. An IDF spokesperson claimed the rockets came from Hamas militants in Lebanon. Hamas has not commented on the attack.

• "The Israeli response, tonight and later on, will extract a high cost from our enemies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after an Israeli security cabinet meeting late Thursday.
• Not long after the Israeli strikes on Gaza, rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory toward Israel.

The escalation comes a day after a violent confrontation between the Israeli police and Palestinian worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during a police raid at the compound. That violence came despite efforts to de-escalate tensions during Ramadan. The Israeli police raid prompted immediate condemnation by several Arab countries.

• Thursday's rocket attack also took place as tens of thousands of Israelis were celebrating Passover in northern Israel.

State of play: The rockets launched from Lebanon were fired around 3pm local time.

• At least 34 rockets were fired, according to the IDF. Twenty-five were intercepted, four fell inside Lebanon and five fell into Israeli territory, including the northern town of Shlomi.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

• IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari claimed in a briefing with reporters that Hamas was behind the attack. Hagari added that the Lebanese government "is responsible for any attack from its territory."
• The military wing of Hezbollah on Thursday morning issued a statement expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and "the resistance factions" and stressed it backs any step they will take in order to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Netanyahu stressed at the beginning of the security cabinet that the domestic disputes around the government’s judicial overhaul won’t prevent Israel from operating against its enemies.

• “Israel is maintaining the status quo at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem…we will act against anybody who uses violence at the Temple Mount," he said.
• Defense Minister Yoav Gallant instructed the IDF to prepare all possible options of retaliation for the rocket attack from Lebanon and present them to the security cabinet, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
• Two Israeli officials said that while the response against Hamas in Gaza will be very strong, it is unclear what level of response Israel will take in Lebanon because the country wants to avoid an all-out war.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a meeting with the Italian defense minister, who is visiting Beirut, that Lebanon condemns the rockets fire toward Israel from its territory and stressed the Lebanese army and UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) are intensifying their investigation regarding the incident in order to arrest the perpetrators, according to the Lebanese official news agency.

• "Lebanon opposes any military escalation from its territory and opposes the use of its territory for acts that destabilize the region", Mikati said.

Behind the scenes: The Israeli Foreign Ministry instructed Israeli ambassadors abroad to convey a message to host governments that Israel will retaliate for the rocket fire from Lebanon, two Israeli ambassadors told Axios.

• According to a written instruction obtained by Axios, ambassadors were asked to speak to the foreign ministry in the country they are posted to about the rocket attack and stress that “Israel will take the necessary steps to defend itself."
• The ambassadors were also instructed to demand that countries issue statements condemning the rocket fire from Lebanon.

What they're saying: Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, the head of mission and force commander of the UN Interim Force In Lebanon, called the situation extremely dangerous and said he was in touch with Lebanese and Israeli authorities.

• He added that UNIFIL urges restraint to avoid further escalation.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in a tweet called on the international community to issue a "clear statement against those responsible for the attacks on Israel."
• "First day of Passover. As we sit at the holiday table, family and friends, Israel is facing rockets from south and north," he added. "No one should test us, we will take all necessary measures to defend our country and people."

A White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement that the Biden administration remains "extremely concerned by the continuing violence [in the region] and we urge all sides to avoid further escalation."

• The Biden administration stands "firmly for the preservation of the historic status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem" and condemns "the launch of rockets at Israel," the spokesperson said, adding that President Biden has been briefed on the recent developments.
• "Our commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad. We recognize Israel’s legitimate right to defend its people and territory against all forms of aggression," the spokesperson said. "We urge all sides to avoid further escalation."