Israel hit back after rockets fired from southern Lebanon yesterday landed near the northern town of Kiryat ShmonaIsraeli fighter jets have launched air raids on Lebanon for the first time in more than seven years in retaliation for a second day of rocket fire from across the border. It comes as tensions are rising in the Middle East after Iran was blamed for attacks on two foreign tankers in the Arabian Sea, including a drone strike which killed a British security guard, and the hijacking of another vessel. In Tehran, a hardline former judge, Ebrahim Raisi, is due to take office as president today. SponsoredIsrael’s previous military responses in the area, which have largely targeted Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group, were previously limited to artillery shelling. “Earlier today, rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory,” the Israeli air force tweeted.

Source: The Times August 05, 2021 12:56 UTC