WhatsappAn anti-tank missile was fired toward the village of Ghajar in northern Israel Thursday afternoon.
Seemingly a part of the retaliation for the IDF’s operation in Jenin operation, the anti-tank missile attack drew a heavy artillery response from the IDF.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed that Israel would respond to the attack.
“Against any violation of our sovereignty and challenge to our presence in our country, we will respond at the place and time of our choosing, in overt and covert ways, that will exact a clear price from those responsible,” said Gallant at a memorial event for fallen soldiers of South Lebanon Army, a Christian militia supported by Israel between the mid-1980s and the summer of 2000.
Initially, the IDF assumed it was a rocket fired, but when their forces arrived at the scene they found out it was an anti-tank missile.
“In response, the IDF is currently striking the area from which the launch was carried out in Lebanese territory,” the military said, adding that there were no special instructions for citizens of northern Israel.
UNIFIL said it sent peacekeepers to investigate the incident, while the head of the mission spoke to both Lebanese and Israeli authorities to ease the situation.
“This incident comes at a sensitive time and in an area that has already experienced tensions earlier this week,” UNIFIL said in a statement. “We urge everyone to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could cause further escalation.”
