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Lebanon dismantles loaded rocket launcher primed to fire at Israel

The Lebanese army said Friday it had dismantled a launcher loaded with rockets ready to be fired at Israel, hours after Israel shelled Lebanese territory in response to the biggest rocket salvo since 2006.

The dawn bombardment, also targeting the Gaza Strip, was in retaliation for several dozen rockets fired on Thursday at Israel from both Lebanon and the Palestinian territory.

A statement by the Lebanese army said, "a rocket launcher was found armed with rockets that had not been fired yet in the Marjayoun plain" near the Israeli border.

The army said it had dismantled the multiple rocket launcher which it found abandoned in an olive grove. It published pictures on Twitter of the launcher still loaded with six rockets that had not been fired.

On Thursday, the Israeli army said more than 30 rockets had been fired from Lebanese territory into Israel in the largest escalation on the northern border since Israel and the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006.

The rockets were reportedly in response to Israel's attack on hundreds of Palestinian worshippers in the Al-Aqsa mosque - Islam's third-holiest site.

Israel attacked at dawn Friday with a barrage of fire on the Tyre region on the Mediterranean coast. The Israeli army said it "struck targets including terror infrastructures belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon".

It was the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022.

Shells hit a field and damaged a house near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, an area from where rockets were fired at Israel, AFP correspondents said.

One shell hit a banana grove in the village of Qlayle, another area from where rockets were fired.

"There are no Hezbollah or Palestinian military positions here. The Israeli are unleashing their anger on banana groves," Mohsen Mortada, a resident of Qlayle, told AFP.

The Israeli army has blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon.

"We know for sure it's Palestinian fire," Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said on Thursday. "It could be Hamas, it could be Islamic Jihad."

Hezbollah has a good relationship with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is currently in Lebanon.

Explosions heard in south Lebanon's Tyre

At least three explosions were heard in southern Lebanon's Tyre region at dawn on Friday, according to AFP reporters, as Israel announced it was carrying out strikes in response to rocket fire.

"At least two shells fell near" a Palestinian refugee camp near Tyre city, said camp resident Abu Ahmad, who told AFP he "heard explosions".

Israeli army strike Lebanon

The Israeli army announced before dawn Friday that it was carrying out strikes "in Lebanon", from where more than 30 rockets were fired at Israel the previous day.

The army said in a short statement issued at 4:07 am (0107 GMT) that it "is currently striking in Lebanon," without providing further details.

Lebanon's Prime Minister rejects 'escalation' from its soil after attack on Israel

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Thursday the country "refuses any escalation from its territory," condemning the barrage of rockets fired towards Israel from its soil.

Mikati said in a statement that Lebanon "rejects the use of its territory to carry out operations that destabilize the situation," after Israel threatened to retaliate against Palestinian groups it accused of the attack.

Palestinians fire missiles at Israeli settlements

Palestinian militants fires missiles at Israeli settlements in the Gaza envelope, a populated area of Israel near the Gaza Strip, according to ������'s Arabic service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The Israeli army said it activated warning sirens in the settlements of Nirim and Nir Am, near the borders of the strip, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

This comes after Israel bombed the besieged enclave after warning it would hit its "enemies", following a rocket attack in the north of Israel from Lebanon which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinians.

Three Israelis were reportedly injured according to Israeli medical services, in the possible retaliation over multiple attacks by the Israeli security forces on worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.

Activists, media professionals condemn Israeli attack on Gaza

Activists and media professionals are condemning Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip

Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues.

— Nour Odeh 🇵🇸 #NojusticeNopeace (@nour_odeh)

"This is Gaza right now. Victims are not blue-eyed Europeans, so it's not considered terrorism in Western world," one activist wrote.

Renowned journalist Nour Odeh also posted about the escalation on her Twitter page, stressing "nowhere is safe in Gaza".

This is Gaza right now. Victims are not blue-eyed Europeans, so it's not considered terrorism in Western world.

— Md Asif Khan‏‎‎‎‎‎‎ (@imMAK02)

"Reminder to all: Gaza is an open air prison 2+ million Palestinians have been under Israeli siege since 2006. The majority of the population in Gaza are under 35. Finally, there are no shelters in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on construction material. NOWHERE is safe in ," Odeh tweeted.

Netanyahu says that Israel's response will cost the enemies a heavy price

Israeli PM Netanyahu says Israel's response will 'cost our enemies a heavy price', after bombs were heard in Gaza.

This comes after the Israeli army accused Palestinians of being behind strikes fired into Israel from Lebanon.

"The Ministerial Committee for National Security Affairs (the political-security cabinet) took a series of decisions... based on the recommendations of the Israeli army and security forces in response to fire being opened on Israeli civilians," the Israeli cabinet affirmed.

The salvo of 34 rockets fired on the Jewish holiday of Passover was the largest escalation along the frontier since Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34 day war in 2006.

Hamas say Israeli started escalations with Al-Aqsa raids

In a second statement, Hamas said Israeli raids on Al-Aqsa mosque were the cause for escalations in the region.

"The occupation is the one who started all this escalation when it attacked those who were in Al-Aqsa Mosque in a barbaric and unprecedented way," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem.

"The occupation will pay the price of its crime in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the price of its aggression against our people here in the Gaza Strip," it added.

Hamas hold Israel responsible for 'dangerous escalation'

Islamist group Hamas hold Israel responsible for the "dangerous escalation" in the region, after the Israeli army began bombing the Gaza Strip on Thursday night.

"We hold the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the dangerous escalation and blatant aggression against the Gaza Strip and our proud Palestinian people," Hamas wrote.

"As for the situation in the region, this brutal aggression against Gaza, and the continued violations of the occupation against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, will not achieve security for the occupation," it added.

The bombing comes after the Israeli army claimed Palestinians were responsible for rockets fired into northern Israel's Western Galilee region from Lebanon on Thursday.

Israeli army confirms strikes in Gaza Strip

The Israeli army "is currently striking in the Gaza Strip," according to an army statement.

AFP had heard at least three explosions in the area at 11:15 pm (2115 GMT).

A Palestinian security source said the strikes had hit several Hamas training sites.

Further strikes rang out half an hour later, and aircraft could be heard flying overhead.

'Huge explosions' heard in the Gaza Strip

Explosions have been heard in the Gaza strip after Israel warned it would 'strike... enemies', according to ������'s Arabic service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Israel are pursuing attacks against Hamas targets, according to Israeli media.

This comes after the Israeli army claimed Palestinians were responsible for rockets fired into northern Israel's Western Galilee region from Lebanon on Thursday.