Latest Middle East news: Hezbollah fires rockets at central Israel

Hezbollah launched a series of rockets into central Israel on Tuesday, setting off air raid sirens in the country’s most populated areas but causing no apparent damage or injuries.

The Israeli military said that five projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel and that most were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system. One of them landed in an open area.

The rocket launches came as Israel stepped up its attacks in Lebanon, targeting a financial institution run by Hezbollah, and as the US pushed to resume ceasefire negotiations in Gaza following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to annihilate Hamas and recover dozens of hostages held by the group. Hamas says it will only release captives in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants punched holes in Israel’s security fence and invaded, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapping another 250. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million people.

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Here are the latest:

TEL AVIV, Israel — Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel on Tuesday, setting off air raid sirens in the country’s most populated areas but causing no apparent damage or injuries.

The Israeli military said that five projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel and that most were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system. One of them landed in an open area.

Israeli police said there were no reports of damage or injuries following the salvo.

The Israeli military said that at the same time, around 15 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The rocket launch occurred as Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon, targeting a financial institution run by Hezbollah, and as Israeli troops advanced in the invasion of southern Lebanon.