The Israeli military reported that over 100 projectiles were launched from Lebanon early on Sunday, compelling hundreds of thousands to seek shelter and leading to the closure of schools in northern Israel. The military stated that "approximately 20 projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon" just before 5am (0200 GMT), followed by a barrage of "approximately 85 projectiles" fired from Lebanon after 6am (0300 GMT).
"Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to take refuge in bomb shelters across northern Israel at that time," said military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani. Earlier, the military reported that the rocket fire had caused fires, while Israel's medical emergency service stated that at least four people sustained "shrapnel injuries", three of whom were in the vicinity of the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
Following the rocket fire, Israel's civil defence agency ordered all schools in the northern region to close, marking the latest escalation in nearly a year of cross-border exchanges during the Gaza war. Educational activities were suspended across northern Israel until at least Monday at 6pm (1500 GMT), affecting "hundreds of thousands of children," according to Shoshani.
"In Haifa, many schools are closed...and offices are deserted," said resident Patrice Wolff, who works in the medical industry. He noted that there was "increasing pressure" from both Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanese group. The military responded by launching strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Shoshani mentioned that the military had targeted various sites over the past day, primarily "rocket launchers and rocket launcher barrels." The Israeli strikes aimed "to prevent a larger-scale attack," the military spokesperson explained during an online press briefing.
The ongoing escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah has raised concerns about the potential for all-out war. Israeli officials have recently indicated their intention to shift the focus of military operations from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
