Israel hit by rockets fired from Lebanon

[bemildred]

Gaza rocket fire struck a gas station and set it ablaze Friday in southern Israel, seriously wounding one person as rocket fire also came from Lebanon for the first time in the four-day offensive.

The attack on the gas station in Ashdod looked to be the most serious attack in Israel in the four days of fighting that has seen Israel deliver a heavy blow to Gaza's Hamas leaders. The military have carried out more than 1,000 strike strikes against Gaza targets that have killed at least 95 people, including dozens of civilians.

The explosion in Ashdod sent plumes of smoke high into the air, leaving a trail of charred vehicles in its wake. Israeli health officials said the blast wounded three people, including one in serious condition. Rocket fire continued in earnest from Gaza toward various locations in southern Israel and around Tel Aviv.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-hit-by-rockets-fired-from-lebanon-1.2703698

Xpost from LBN

[ellenrr]

2. true, Israel might expand the assault to Lebanon, as they have before.

Altho, if they attacked Lebanon, I think that would have greater consequences. maybe...

[bemildred]

3. The Lebanese government would never do such a thing.

And Hezbollah is already very occupied with events in Lebanon and Syria and Iraq, where they are fighting. The probabilities are that Hezbollah would fight the guys shooting these rockets, since they don't like the salafis (al Qaeda, Taliban, IS) at all.

[Scootaloo]

4. It's almost certainly Hezbollah

See, Lebanon is a weird country. Even considering the rest of the Middle east, lebanon is weird.

- its government is based on the idea of power-sharing between the thee religious groups in the country. The system was put in place in the 1930's, and is supposed to alter according to Lebanon's demographics at a given time. However, Lebanon hasn't held a census since this rule was instituted, because of the reality that "if" demographics have changed (they certainly have) then changing hte power structure will kind of, you know, set off a hideous time bomb of religious strife. Thanks, France!

- As a result of this, Lebanon's government is basically powerless to do anything other than cut ribbons in front of shopping centers and hold press conferences about the last press conference they had.

- This extends to the military, which is the smallest in the middle east, and one of the smallest in the world (bigger than Costa Rica's, maybe smaller than Jamaica's). Like the core government its power is split along factions. Like the core government, it really doesn't do anything. The military sat out the civil war, it sat out both Israeli invasions, it sat out the Syrian occupation, it made no moves in the 2006 war with Israel... basically the Lebanese military looks good in uniform and on occasion goes on vacation with the UN to deliver rice to earthquake victims or the like.

As you say though, hezbollah is kinda busy with the whole "being mercenaries in Syria" thing... but I'm pretty certain they left dudes on hte home Front as well, so... yeah.

[azurnoir]

5. Israel has 'retaliated'

Gaza City (CNN) -- A rocket was fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon, and the Israeli military responded with an artillery strike, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said Friday.

The rocket landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the Lebanese border, and no damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket.

The IDF spokesman said that Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack.

Two rockets were launched from the town of Mari in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's official news agency NNA reported, while a third rocket failed to launch.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/10/world/meast/mideast-tensions/

[bemildred]

6. Yes, three is what I read, and Israel fired some artillery in the direction they came from.

A show of support, is what they call it.

[azurnoir]

8. Last night I read on some news site I honestly don't remember which

that supposedly blood and bits of cloth were found at one of launch sites in Lebanon after Israel's "show of support"


BTW CBC has changed the story completely as news sites seem to do with annoying frequency, the link remains the same but the title now reads

"Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu: World pressure won't stop offensive"

[bemildred]

7. Another version:

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/rockets-fired-lebanon-strike-israeli-occupied-territories

[bemildred]

9. Rockets Fired From Lebanon Into Israel [Report]

BEIRUT - A new rocket launch from southern Lebanon on Saturday evening targeted Israel, with initial media reports saying that at least two rockets hit the western Galilee town of Nahariya.

Israeli media outlets reported air raid sirens in the area and cited residents as saying they heard explosions.

However, no official confirmation of the attack was given either by the Israel Defense Forces, UNIFIL or other organizations.

The attack comes on the heel of rocket attacks from Lebanon Friday morning, which coincide with Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

http://www.businessinsider.com/lebanon-rocket-strike-israel-2014-7