The Iranian-backed Lebanese movement "Hezbollah" stated today that it fired dozens of rockets at Israeli positions in response to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
The group made the announcement amid fears that Iran would retaliate against Israel, which it blames for an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that an NGO said killed 16 people, including two generals from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Islamic Revolution.
Fighters of "Hezbollah" attacked "enemy artillery positions /.../ with dozens of Katyusha rockets," the movement said in a statement, adding that the shelling was "a response to enemy attacks on villages in the south of the country and homes of civilians". ;.
The Israeli army reported that it detected the launch of about 40 objects from Lebanese territory, some of which were intercepted. There were no reports of casualties, the military said, adding that two "Hezbollah drones carrying explosives" had been intercepted earlier. The Lebanese news agency NNA reported today Israeli artillery shelling and strikes on several Lebanese border villages.
Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and "Hamas" on October 7, there is an almost daily exchange of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, which supports the Palestinian movement. According to AFP, as a result of these attacks in Lebanon, at least 363 people were killed, mainly Hezbollah fighters, but also at least 70 civilians. According to the Israeli army, ten soldiers and eight civilians were killed in northern Israel.
Following US President Joe Biden's statement on Wednesday that Iran was "threatening to launch a major attack on Israel", the US general in charge of the Middle East, Michael Eric Kurilla, arrived on a visit to Israel. According to an Israeli official statement, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed yesterday with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant "the level of preparedness for an Iranian attack on Israel".
"Israel will not allow an Iranian attack on its territory," said Gallant. "If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz previously warned. The US has reaffirmed its "unwavering support for Israel's defense" despite tensions between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the way the war against "Hamas" is being waged.