Israeli security cabinet convenes following rocket fire exchange with Lebanon

An Israeli security cabinet is convening after rockets fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday, which came amid days of violence in occupied East Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would convene the cabinet following the attack.

The Israeli army and security service Shin Bet also held a situational assessment meeting in Tel Aviv's military headquarters, while Defence Minister Yoav Gallant - though technically sacked - said that he would be "giving initial instructions" to the Israeli army.

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli military shelled parts of southern Lebanon after rockets were fired from the country into northern Israel, which are believed to be carried out by Palestinian factions, according to sources.

Israeli artillery fired "several shells from its positions on the border" towards the outskirts of two villages -including Qulaila - after the launch of "several Katyusha type rockets" at Israel, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

It happened one hour after rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, injuring three people. So far there have been no reports of casualties in southern Lebanon.

Additionally, the Lebanese Army confirmed that rockets ready for launch were found in the vicinity of the towns of Zibqine and Qulaila, and work is underway to dismantle them. They added that rockets were indeed launched from those towns - as well as Maaliya.

The army also said they would be conducting patrols in the area in close coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket fire, although the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah - which fought a bloody war with Israel in 2006 - denied responsibility, in an exclusive interview with The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Meanwhile, an unnamed source in UNIFIL told The New Arab that Palestinian factions fired the rockets, in response to Israeli's violent incursions on Al-Aqsa.

Moreover, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safi al-Din warmed that "the Israeli effort to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque and harm our holy sites will set the region on fire," in a comment to the affiliated Al-Manar television station.

The comments to the Hezbollah-linked al-Manar TV by Hezbollah Executive Council chief Hashem Safi al-Din come shortly after a barrage of 34 rockets were fired at Lebanon from Israel.

The rockets fired from Lebanon into the Galilee region of northern Israel came amid violent Israeli incursions into the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound this week.

Warning sirens had sounded in the town of Shlomi and in Moshav Betzet and the Galilee in northern Israel, according to Israeli media reports. 

لحظة إطلاق صواريخ من #لبنان باتجاه بلدات شمال #إسرائيل pic.twitter.com/LQC3bsSFnk

— عربي بوست (@arabic_post) April 6, 2023

Dozens of Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa sustained injuries from rubber bullets and physical assaults carried out by the army, who stormed Islam's third holiest site on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Videos online showed Israeli forces wielding batons as they attacked worshippers in the mosque before expelling them. Palestinians were in the mosque taking part in Taraweeh prayers, which take place during the evening in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel bombed the besieged Gaza Strip, causing significant damage to the Nuseirat camp located in the centre of the enclave.

It followed rockets being fired from Gaza into southern parts of Israel - which were said to be retaliation for the raids on Al-Aqsa compound late on Wednesday.

The violence in Jerusalem drew global condemnation, including from Turkey, which described the attacks as "crossing a red line".

The last rocket fired from Lebanon into Israel was in April 2022.

Security incidents occur from time to time in the border area between Lebanon and Israel, which is guarded by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.