Israel, Aug 5 (UNI) Air raid sirens sounded in northern Israel, including in the Ayelet HaShahar area, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday.
"Sirens sounded in Ayelet HaShahar, northern Israel," the Israeli army said on Telegram.
On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. After that, fighters from the Palestinian Hamas movement penetrated the border areas, opening fire on military and civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. According to authorities, about 1,200 people were killed.
In response, the IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip, which included strikes on civilian targets. Israel announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine were stopped. The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded 39,500 people, more than 91,000 people were injured.
The Gaza Strip has effectively been divided into southern and northern parts, Israel is conducting a ground operation in Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.
The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border has also escalated since the start of Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and fighters from Hezbollah shell each other's positions daily in areas along the border. According to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, about 100,000 people were forced to leave their homes in southern Lebanon due to shelling from Israel. The Israeli side reported that approximately 80,000 residents of northern Israel found themselves in a similar situation.
UNI SPUTNIK GNK