At least 15,000 devices failed to detonate on Hezbollah militants during the final activation phase of the pager attack in Lebanon, according to a report by Israeli news outlet i24NEWS on Wednesday (December 26).
The report revealed that the attack was carried out in mid-September at the last possible moment, due to fears that Israel's method of execution might be exposed. Initially, the operation was supposed to be carried out earlier, at the beginning of the war. A security source was cited saying by i24NEWS that doing so at that stage could have resulted in greater success.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-houthis-uncover-mossad-cia-spy-network-as-israel-shifts-focus-to-yemen-8566732" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">Houthis &lsquo;uncover&rsquo; Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen</a>
<h2>Idea for the Lebanon pager attack was conceptualised by Mossad over a decade ago: IDF</h2>
On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. According to the military, the idea for these attacks was first thought of by Mossad over a decade ago.
Reports indicate that once Mossad developed the concept, the military's intelligence and operations units took the lead in turning the idea into a functional plan and deployable weapon. The IDF also made up strategies to analyse the best timing for the explosions to ensure maximum impact.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impossible-to-reach-deal-without-it-hamas-still-hasnt-sent-list-of-living-dead-hostages-to-israel-report-786735" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">'Impossible to reach deal without it,' Hamas still hasn't sent list of living, dead hostages to Israel: Report</a>
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier suggested that some security officials opposed the use of these explosive devices, but he overruled their objections and authorised the operation. However, IDF&rsquo;s insights on Wednesday indicated that it did not oppose the attack but had recommended delaying the attacks until the northern front, involving Hezbollah, became the primary focus of the war, rather than launching them earlier when Gaza was still the main battlefield.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-israeli-hostage-held-in-gaza-dies-a-year-after-her-release-786651" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">Former Israeli hostage held in Gaza dies a year after her release</a>
On Sept. 17, at precisely 3:30 pm, thousands of pagers simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. The following day, the decade-old walkie-talkies exploded in the same way. Two months later, Israel's Netanyahu officially took responsibility for the attack.
Combined, these operations resulted in approximately 30 deaths, including two children, and left around 3,000 people injured.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. 

At least 15,000 devices failed to detonate on Hezbollah militants during the final activation phase of the pager attack in Lebanon, according to a report by Israeli news outlet i24NEWS on Wednesday (December 26). The report revealed that the attack was carried out in mid-September at the last possible moment, due to fears that Israel's method of execution might be exposed. Initially, the operation was supposed to be carried out earlier, at the beginning of the war. A security source was cited saying by i24NEWS that doing so at that stage could have resulted in greater success. Also read: Houthis ‘uncover’ Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen Idea for the Lebanon pager attack was conceptualised by Mossad over a decade ago: IDF On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. According to the military, the idea for these attacks was first thought of by Mossad over a decade ago. Reports indicate that once Mossad developed the concept, the military's intelligence and operations units took the lead in turning the idea into a functional plan and deployable weapon. The IDF also made up strategies to analyse the best timing for the explosions to ensure maximum impact. Also read: 'Impossible to reach deal without it,' Hamas still hasn't sent list of living, dead hostages to Israel: Report Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier suggested that some security officials opposed the use of these explosive devices, but he overruled their objections and authorised the operation. However, IDF’s insights on Wednesday indicated that it did not oppose the attack but had recommended delaying the attacks until the northern front, involving Hezbollah, became the primary focus of the war, rather than launching them earlier when Gaza was still the main battlefield. Also read: Former Israeli hostage held in Gaza dies a year after her release On Sept. 17, at precisely 3:30 pm, thousands of pagers simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. The following day, the decade-old walkie-talkies exploded in the same way. Two months later, Israel's Netanyahu officially took responsibility for the attack. Combined, these operations resulted in approximately 30 deaths, including two children, and left around 3,000 people injured. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

15,000 devices failed to explode during Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah: Report

Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a "terrible escalation" of the Middle East conflict on Wednesday at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went ahead two days after he cancelled meetings over mild flu.

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The pope said the attacks, in which Israel says it has been striking targets affiliated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, were "unacceptable" and urged the international community to do everything possible to halt the fighting.

Francis did not specifically identify Israel, but said he was "saddened by news from Lebanon in recent days that bombardments have caused much destruction and many victims".

The 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered bouts of ill health in recent years, appeared in good form through his audience although he coughed lightly a few times while speaking.

The Vatican has not provided details about the pope's health since announcing on Monday he had cancelled his meetings for that day. It said at the time the pontiff had made the decision as a precautionary measure in view of a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, which starts on Thursday.

At the audience, the pope confirmed his plans to continue with the visit, and asked for prayers for its success.

The tour, his 46th foreign visit as pope, comes less than two weeks after he returned from a demanding 12-day, four-country excursion around Southeast Asia and Oceania.

The pope referred to the strikes in Lebanon in off-the-cuff remarks at the end of his hour-long audience.

Francis, pope since March 2013, now regularly uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. Earlier this year, he cancelled several appointments over what the Vatican variously described as a cold, bronchitis and influenza.

On the September&nbsp;2-13 trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, Francis maintained a packed schedule, headlining more than 40 events, and travelling some 33,000 km (20,500 miles).

Francis started the general audience on Wednesday by taking a tour around the crowd in an open-air popemobile, waving to people as a band played orchestral versions of pop songs.

In his main messages to pilgrims, the pope focused on the dangers of temptation, including online pornography, which Catholic teaching forbids.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a "terrible escalation" of the Middle East conflict on Wednesday at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went ahead two days after he cancelled meetings over mild flu.

Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a "terrible escalation" of the Middle East conflict on Wednesday at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went ahead two days after he cancelled meetings over mild flu. The pope said the attacks, in which Israel says it has been striking targets affiliated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, were "unacceptable" and urged the international community to do everything possible to halt the fighting. Francis did not specifically identify Israel, but said he was "saddened by news from Lebanon in recent days that bombardments have caused much destruction and many victims". The 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered bouts of ill health in recent years, appeared in good form through his audience although he coughed lightly a few times while speaking. The Vatican has not provided details about the pope's health since announcing on Monday he had cancelled his meetings for that day. It said at the time the pontiff had made the decision as a precautionary measure in view of a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, which starts on Thursday. At the audience, the pope confirmed his plans to continue with the visit, and asked for prayers for its success. The tour, his 46th foreign visit as pope, comes less than two weeks after he returned from a demanding 12-day, four-country excursion around Southeast Asia and Oceania. The pope referred to the strikes in Lebanon in off-the-cuff remarks at the end of his hour-long audience. Francis, pope since March 2013, now regularly uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. Earlier this year, he cancelled several appointments over what the Vatican variously described as a cold, bronchitis and influenza. On the September 2-13 trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, Francis maintained a packed schedule, headlining more than 40 events, and travelling some 33,000 km (20,500 miles). Francis started the general audience on Wednesday by taking a tour around the crowd in an open-air popemobile, waving to people as a band played orchestral versions of pop songs. In his main messages to pilgrims, the pope focused on the dangers of temptation, including online pornography, which Catholic teaching forbids. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pope Francis called Israel's attacks on Lebanon a 'terrible escalation' and urged to halt tensions 

Lebanon's health ministry said three emergency personnel were killed on Saturday and two others wounded in an Israeli attack on a civil defence team putting out fires in south Lebanon.

"Israeli enemy targeting of a Lebanese civil defence team that was putting out fires sparked by the recent Israeli strikes in the village of Froun led to the martyrdom of three emergency responders," the health ministry said in a statement.

Two others were wounded, one of them critically, the statement said, adding however that the toll was provisional.

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The health ministry "condemns this blatant Israeli attack that targeted a team from an official body of the Lebanese state", the statement said.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group has exchanged near daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces in support of ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in the Gaza Strip.

The cross-border violence has killed at least 614 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including at least 138 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have announced the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians.

On Saturday, Hezbollah announced a string of attacks on Israeli troops and positions near the border, including with Katyusha rockets, some in stated response to "Israeli enemy attacks" on south Lebanon.

Lebanon's National News Agency said Israel carried out air strikes and shelling on several areas of the country's south.

The Israeli military said it had identified "projectiles" crossing from Lebanon, intercepting some of them.

It said it struck "Hezbollah military infrastructure and a launcher" in the Qabrikha area of southern Lebanon, as well as striking the Aita al-Shaab and Kfarshuba areas.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Lebanon's health ministry said three emergency personnel were killed on Saturday and two others wounded in an Israeli attack on a civil defence team putting out fires in south Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry said three emergency personnel were killed on Saturday and two others wounded in an Israeli attack on a civil defence team putting out fires in south Lebanon. "Israeli enemy targeting of a Lebanese civil defence team that was putting out fires sparked by the recent Israeli strikes in the village of Froun led to the martyrdom of three emergency responders," the health ministry said in a statement. Two others were wounded, one of them critically, the statement said, adding however that the toll was provisional. Also read: Israel launches pre-emptive strike in Lebanon to prevent large-scale Hezbollah attack The health ministry "condemns this blatant Israeli attack that targeted a team from an official body of the Lebanese state", the statement said. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group has exchanged near daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces in support of ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in the Gaza Strip. The cross-border violence has killed at least 614 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including at least 138 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have announced the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians. On Saturday, Hezbollah announced a string of attacks on Israeli troops and positions near the border, including with Katyusha rockets, some in stated response to "Israeli enemy attacks" on south Lebanon. Lebanon's National News Agency said Israel carried out air strikes and shelling on several areas of the country's south. The Israeli military said it had identified "projectiles" crossing from Lebanon, intercepting some of them. It said it struck "Hezbollah military infrastructure and a launcher" in the Qabrikha area of southern Lebanon, as well as striking the Aita al-Shaab and Kfarshuba areas. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Three emergency personnel killed in Israeli strikes, says Lebanon

The United States is leading a diplomatic dash to deter Israel from striking Lebanon's capital Beirut or major civil infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights, five people with knowledge of the drive said.

Washington is racing to avert a full-blown war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah after the attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan killed 12 youths at the weekend, according to the five people who include Lebanese and Iranian officials plus Middle Eastern and European diplomats.

Israel and the US have blamed Hezbollah for the rocket strike, though the group has denied responsibility.

The focus of the high-speed diplomacy has been to constrain Israel's response by urging it against targeting densely populated Beirut, the southern suburbs of the city that form Hezbollah's heartland, or key infrastructure like airports and bridges, said the sources who requested anonymity to discuss confidential details that haven't been previously reported.

Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, who said he had been in contact with US mediator Amos Hochstein since Saturday's Golan attack, told Reuters Israel could avert the threat of major escalation by sparing the capital and its environs.

"If they avoid civilians and they avoid Beirut and its suburbs, then their attack could be well calculated," he said.

Israeli officials have said that their country wants to hurt Hezbollah but not drag the region into all-out war. The two Middle Eastern and European diplomats said Israel hadn't made any commitment to avoiding strikes on Beirut, its suburbs or civil infrastructure.

Watch |&nbsp;Trump rally shooter was spotted by cops nearly 100 minutes before shooting, says report

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The US State Department said it wouldn't comment on the specifics of diplomatic conversations, though it was seeking a "durable solution" to end all cross-border fire. "Our support for Israel's security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah," a spokesperson told Reuters.

White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Israel had every right to respond to the Golan strike, but that nobody wanted a broader war. "As for conversations over the weekend, you bet we've had them and we had them at multiple levels," he added. "But I'm not going to detail the guts of those conversations."

The Israeli Prime Minister's office didn't respond to a request for comment, while Hezbollah declined to comment.

The five people with knowledge of the diplomatic push over the past two days have either been involved in the conversations or briefed on them. They said the efforts aimed to achieve a calibrated approach similar to that which contained April's exchange of missile and drone attacks between Israel and Iran, sparked by an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

An Iranian official said the United States had also conveyed messages to Tehran at least three times since Saturday's attack on the Golan Heights, "warning that escalating the situation would be detrimental to all parties."

Hezbollah is the most powerful of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" network of regional proxy groups and is allied with the Palestinian group Hamas. It has been trading fire with the Israeli military across Lebanon's southern border since the Gaza war erupted last October.

During a 2006 war, the last time Israel and Hezbollah fought a major conflict, Israeli forces bombed Beirut's southern suburbs, known as the Dahiya, hitting Hezbollah-affiliated buildings as well as residential towers. Beirut airport was attacked and put out of action, and across Lebanon bridges, roads, petrol stations and other infrastructure were destroyed.

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A French diplomat told Reuters that since the Golan attack, Paris had also been involved in passing messages between Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate the situation.

France has historic ties with Lebanon, which was under French mandate from 1920 till it gained independence in 1943. Paris has maintained close ties since then and has about 20,000 citizens in the country, many dual nationals.

The French foreign ministry didn't respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The Israeli Homefront Command, a military unit responsible for protecting civilians, has not changed any of its instructions to citizens so far, an indication that the military is not expecting imminent danger from Hezbollah or any other group.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, which comprises 10 ministers and has dictated policy on the Gaza war and Hezbollah, authorized the premier and the defence minister to "decide on the manner and timing of the response" against Hezbollah.

This decision, coupled with the abstention of Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners - Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - suggests that Israel has opted for a response short of the all-out war that some politicians have advocated for.

Following the Golan attack, Smotrich had issued a strong statement demanding robust action. He posted on X: "For the death of children, (Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah should pay with his head. All of Lebanon should pay."

(Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.)

The United States is leading a diplomatic dash to deter Israel from striking Lebanon's capital Beirut or major civil infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights, five people with knowledge of the drive said.

The United States is leading a diplomatic dash to deter Israel from striking Lebanon's capital Beirut or major civil infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights, five people with knowledge of the drive said. Washington is racing to avert a full-blown war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah after the attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan killed 12 youths at the weekend, according to the five people who include Lebanese and Iranian officials plus Middle Eastern and European diplomats. Israel and the US have blamed Hezbollah for the rocket strike, though the group has denied responsibility. The focus of the high-speed diplomacy has been to constrain Israel's response by urging it against targeting densely populated Beirut, the southern suburbs of the city that form Hezbollah's heartland, or key infrastructure like airports and bridges, said the sources who requested anonymity to discuss confidential details that haven't been previously reported. Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, who said he had been in contact with US mediator Amos Hochstein since Saturday's Golan attack, told Reuters Israel could avert the threat of major escalation by sparing the capital and its environs. "If they avoid civilians and they avoid Beirut and its suburbs, then their attack could be well calculated," he said. Israeli officials have said that their country wants to hurt Hezbollah but not drag the region into all-out war. The two Middle Eastern and European diplomats said Israel hadn't made any commitment to avoiding strikes on Beirut, its suburbs or civil infrastructure. Watch | Trump rally shooter was spotted by cops nearly 100 minutes before shooting, says report × The US State Department said it wouldn't comment on the specifics of diplomatic conversations, though it was seeking a "durable solution" to end all cross-border fire. "Our support for Israel's security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah," a spokesperson told Reuters. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Israel had every right to respond to the Golan strike, but that nobody wanted a broader war. "As for conversations over the weekend, you bet we've had them and we had them at multiple levels," he added. "But I'm not going to detail the guts of those conversations." The Israeli Prime Minister's office didn't respond to a request for comment, while Hezbollah declined to comment. The five people with knowledge of the diplomatic push over the past two days have either been involved in the conversations or briefed on them. They said the efforts aimed to achieve a calibrated approach similar to that which contained April's exchange of missile and drone attacks between Israel and Iran, sparked by an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. An Iranian official said the United States had also conveyed messages to Tehran at least three times since Saturday's attack on the Golan Heights, "warning that escalating the situation would be detrimental to all parties." Hezbollah is the most powerful of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" network of regional proxy groups and is allied with the Palestinian group Hamas. It has been trading fire with the Israeli military across Lebanon's southern border since the Gaza war erupted last October. During a 2006 war, the last time Israel and Hezbollah fought a major conflict, Israeli forces bombed Beirut's southern suburbs, known as the Dahiya, hitting Hezbollah-affiliated buildings as well as residential towers. Beirut airport was attacked and put out of action, and across Lebanon bridges, roads, petrol stations and other infrastructure were destroyed. Also read: US pledges $500 million in military aid to Philippines as tensions with China escalate A French diplomat told Reuters that since the Golan attack, Paris had also been involved in passing messages between Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate the situation. France has historic ties with Lebanon, which was under French mandate from 1920 till it gained independence in 1943. Paris has maintained close ties since then and has about 20,000 citizens in the country, many dual nationals. The French foreign ministry didn't respond to Reuters requests for comment. The Israeli Homefront Command, a military unit responsible for protecting civilians, has not changed any of its instructions to citizens so far, an indication that the military is not expecting imminent danger from Hezbollah or any other group. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, which comprises 10 ministers and has dictated policy on the Gaza war and Hezbollah, authorized the premier and the defence minister to "decide on the manner and timing of the response" against Hezbollah. This decision, coupled with the abstention of Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners - Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - suggests that Israel has opted for a response short of the all-out war that some politicians have advocated for. Following the Golan attack, Smotrich had issued a strong statement demanding robust action. He posted on X: "For the death of children, (Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah should pay with his head. All of Lebanon should pay." (Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

US rushes to prevent Israel-Lebanon conflict after Golan Heights attack

Israel said Thursday that it had intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon following clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque. The violence inside Islam's third-holiest site had led to warnings of retaliation from around the region. Israel also denied Lebanese reports that it had carried out retaliatory strikes against the attack.

Dozens of rockets were fired from southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon and 25 of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system over northern Israel, the military said. At least three people were injured and several buildings were damaged.

The Israel Defence Forces said 34 rockets had been fired toward the border with five landing inside Israel, and most of the rest were downed. The impact sites of four other rockets were not clearly known.

It was the first time since the 2006 war when a barrage of so many rockets has been fired on Israel from Lebanon. In August 2021, Hezbollah had fired 19 rockets at northern Israel. 
 
"A rocket was fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory and was successfully intercepted," an army statement said.

One man is said to be injured in the attack by shrapnel and another woman is also wounded.&nbsp;

Israeli media reported that a "salvo" of projectiles had been fired by Lebanon. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Warning sirens were sounded in the town of Shlomi and in Moshav Betzet and the Galilee in northern Israel.&nbsp;

The rocket fire happened amid high tensions after Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa mosque early on Wednesday and again in the evening.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that he was "receiving continuous updates about the security situation and will conduct an assessment with the heads of the security establishment."&nbsp;

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was also briefed on the details of the rockets being fired.

"The minister will soon conduct a situation assessment with senior officials in the defence establishment," a ministry spokesman said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-again-at-jerusalems-al-aqsa-mosque-six-injured-579598">Clashes erupt again at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, six injured</a>

No group claimed responsibility for the assault&nbsp;and the Al-Arabiya network cited&nbsp;a source in Hezbollah as saying that it was not behind the rocket fire&nbsp;and apparently put the blame on&nbsp;Palestinian groups in the area.&nbsp; 
 
What happened in al-Aqsa mosque?

Before dawn on Wednesday, armed police in riot gear stormed the prayer hall of al-Aqsa mosque to remove "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" who had supposedly barricaded themselves inside.

The violence occurred during both the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. An exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in the Gaza Strip ensued.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Earlier on Thursday, Lebanon's pro-Iranian armed movement Hezbollah warned it would support "all measures" that Palestinian groups plan to take against Israel after the clashes.&nbsp;

"Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the al-Aqsa mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful," Hezbollah said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Israel said Thursday that it had intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon following clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque.

Israel said Thursday that it had intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon following clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque. The violence inside Islam's third-holiest site had led to warnings of retaliation from around the region. Israel also denied Lebanese reports that it had carried out retaliatory strikes against the attack. Dozens of rockets were fired from southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon and 25 of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system over northern Israel, the military said. At least three people were injured and several buildings were damaged. The Israel Defence Forces said 34 rockets had been fired toward the border with five landing inside Israel, and most of the rest were downed. The impact sites of four other rockets were not clearly known. It was the first time since the 2006 war when a barrage of so many rockets has been fired on Israel from Lebanon. In August 2021, Hezbollah had fired 19 rockets at northern Israel. "A rocket was fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory and was successfully intercepted," an army statement said. One man is said to be injured in the attack by shrapnel and another woman is also wounded. Israeli media reported that a "salvo" of projectiles had been fired by Lebanon. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Warning sirens were sounded in the town of Shlomi and in Moshav Betzet and the Galilee in northern Israel. The rocket fire happened amid high tensions after Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa mosque early on Wednesday and again in the evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that he was "receiving continuous updates about the security situation and will conduct an assessment with the heads of the security establishment." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was also briefed on the details of the rockets being fired. "The minister will soon conduct a situation assessment with senior officials in the defence establishment," a ministry spokesman said. Also Read | Clashes erupt again at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, six injured No group claimed responsibility for the assault and the Al-Arabiya network cited a source in Hezbollah as saying that it was not behind the rocket fire and apparently put the blame on Palestinian groups in the area. What happened in al-Aqsa mosque? Before dawn on Wednesday, armed police in riot gear stormed the prayer hall of al-Aqsa mosque to remove "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" who had supposedly barricaded themselves inside. The violence occurred during both the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. An exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in the Gaza Strip ensued. × Earlier on Thursday, Lebanon's pro-Iranian armed movement Hezbollah warned it would support "all measures" that Palestinian groups plan to take against Israel after the clashes. "Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the al-Aqsa mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful," Hezbollah said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lebanon fires barrage of rockets after clashes at al-Aqsa mosque; five hit Israeli targets