This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7817135.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon | Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Rockets have been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, raising fears the Israeli offensive in Gaza may spread. | Rockets have been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, raising fears the Israeli offensive in Gaza may spread. |
| Israel's army responded with artillery to a barrage of at least three rockets. No group has claimed responsibility. | Israel's army responded with artillery to a barrage of at least three rockets. No group has claimed responsibility. |
| Israeli media later reported a second rocket attack, but an army spokesman said this was a false alarm. | Israeli media later reported a second rocket attack, but an army spokesman said this was a false alarm. |
| The exchanges came as Israel launched 60 air strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, targeting facilities used by the militant Hamas group. | The exchanges came as Israel launched 60 air strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, targeting facilities used by the militant Hamas group. |
| No group has yet claimed responsibility for the rocket fire from Lebanon. | No group has yet claimed responsibility for the rocket fire from Lebanon. |
| Correspondents say this is a dangerous moment in the current conflict. | Correspondents say this is a dangerous moment in the current conflict. |
| The rocket attacks from Lebanon have raised concerns about a wider war, says the BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen. | The rocket attacks from Lebanon have raised concerns about a wider war, says the BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen. |
| It is is not clear if the rockets were fired by Hezbollah or by one of the armed Palestinian groups that operate in Lebanon. | It is is not clear if the rockets were fired by Hezbollah or by one of the armed Palestinian groups that operate in Lebanon. |
| If Hezbollah mounted the attack there is a grave risk of a very strong Israeli reaction, our correspondent says. | If Hezbollah mounted the attack there is a grave risk of a very strong Israeli reaction, our correspondent says. |
| The Palestinians in Lebanon do not have the capacity to fight a war with Israel, but Hezbollah does. | The Palestinians in Lebanon do not have the capacity to fight a war with Israel, but Hezbollah does. |
| Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to secure a truce in Gaza continue, with a senior Israeli official due to travel to Cairo to hear details of a ceasefire plan drawn up by Egypt and France. | Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to secure a truce in Gaza continue, with a senior Israeli official due to travel to Cairo to hear details of a ceasefire plan drawn up by Egypt and France. |
| A Hamas delegation is expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas is due to arrive on Friday. | A Hamas delegation is expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas is due to arrive on Friday. |
| Schools closed | Schools closed |
| At least three Katyusha rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel early on Thursday, with some reports putting the number of rocket attacks at five. | At least three Katyusha rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel early on Thursday, with some reports putting the number of rocket attacks at five. |
| One rocket hit the Nahariya area, north of the city of Haifa. | One rocket hit the Nahariya area, north of the city of Haifa. |
| At least two people were slightly wounded and a number of others were suffering from shock, Israeli officials said. | At least two people were slightly wounded and a number of others were suffering from shock, Israeli officials said. |
| Language of HamasGaza offensive - in mapsPoints of view on GazaIn pictures: Conflict continues | Language of HamasGaza offensive - in mapsPoints of view on GazaIn pictures: Conflict continues |
| Israel immediately responded with five artillery shells into Lebanon, calling it a "pinpoint response at the source of fire". | Israel immediately responded with five artillery shells into Lebanon, calling it a "pinpoint response at the source of fire". |
| An army spokesman described it as an "isolated event". | An army spokesman described it as an "isolated event". |
| But shortly afterwards, reports came in of a further rocket attack from Lebanon, although the army later called it a false alarm. | But shortly afterwards, reports came in of a further rocket attack from Lebanon, although the army later called it a false alarm. |
| Schools have been closed and residents told to stay indoors, local officials said. | Schools have been closed and residents told to stay indoors, local officials said. |
| Lebanon's government said it was investigating who fired the rockets and stressed it remained committed to peace, the Associated Press reports. | Lebanon's government said it was investigating who fired the rockets and stressed it remained committed to peace, the Associated Press reports. |
| The latest attacks come a day after the leader of militant group Hezbollah, a strong ally of Hamas, spoke openly about the possibility of a renewed conflict with Israel. | The latest attacks come a day after the leader of militant group Hezbollah, a strong ally of Hamas, spoke openly about the possibility of a renewed conflict with Israel. |
| Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah had already put its fighters on high alert along the Lebanese-Israeli border. | Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah had already put its fighters on high alert along the Lebanese-Israeli border. |
| Northern Israel came under attack from rockets fired by Hezbollah during the brief war with Lebanon in the summer of 2006. | Northern Israel came under attack from rockets fired by Hezbollah during the brief war with Lebanon in the summer of 2006. |
| In 2007, Palestinian militant groups fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel. | In 2007, Palestinian militant groups fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel. |
| Air attacks | Air attacks |
| In Gaza, Israel continued its offensive overnight with 60 airstrikes targeting police sites, 10 Hamas tunnels, weapons storage facilities, launching pads "and a number of armed gunmen", the Israeli army said. | In Gaza, Israel continued its offensive overnight with 60 airstrikes targeting police sites, 10 Hamas tunnels, weapons storage facilities, launching pads "and a number of armed gunmen", the Israeli army said. |
| Naval and artillery units "continued to support the ground forces" with one soldier lightly wounded, the army added. | Naval and artillery units "continued to support the ground forces" with one soldier lightly wounded, the army added. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Shopping for 'basic needs' in Gaza market | Shopping for 'basic needs' in Gaza market |
| Palestinian sources say an air attack destroyed a mosque in Gaza City but there has been no independent confirmation of this. | Palestinian sources say an air attack destroyed a mosque in Gaza City but there has been no independent confirmation of this. |
| Unconfirmed reports also spoke of a tank advance with helicopter support towards Khan Younis, also in the south, shortly after midnight. | Unconfirmed reports also spoke of a tank advance with helicopter support towards Khan Younis, also in the south, shortly after midnight. |
| The bombardment followed a three-hour pause in fighting on Wednesday to allow vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. | The bombardment followed a three-hour pause in fighting on Wednesday to allow vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. |
| Aid agencies report that Gazans rushed into the streets to buy essential supplies and visit relatives in hospital during the lull. | Aid agencies report that Gazans rushed into the streets to buy essential supplies and visit relatives in hospital during the lull. |
| UN aid workers welcomed Israel's promise of brief daily ceasefires but said only a total end to fighting would allow them to distribute aid to those who need it. | UN aid workers welcomed Israel's promise of brief daily ceasefires but said only a total end to fighting would allow them to distribute aid to those who need it. |
| Israel said on Wednesday it accepted the principles of a Franco-Egyptian truce proposal, which was backed by Washington, but wanted to see the details. | Israel said on Wednesday it accepted the principles of a Franco-Egyptian truce proposal, which was backed by Washington, but wanted to see the details. |
| The UN Security Council seemed deadlocked over the crisis. | The UN Security Council seemed deadlocked over the crisis. |
| Arab countries want the Council to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire while Britain, France and the US are pushing for a weaker statement welcoming the Franco-Egyptian initiative. | Arab countries want the Council to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire while Britain, France and the US are pushing for a weaker statement welcoming the Franco-Egyptian initiative. |
| The US could well veto any vote as it is a permanent member of the Security Council, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports. | The US could well veto any vote as it is a permanent member of the Security Council, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports. |
| Nearly 700 Palestinian and 11 Israeli lives are said to have been lost since the offensive began 12 days ago. | Nearly 700 Palestinian and 11 Israeli lives are said to have been lost since the offensive began 12 days ago. |
| Casualty claims in Gaza cannot be independently verified. | Casualty claims in Gaza cannot be independently verified. |
| While the BBC has had Palestinian producers reporting from Gaza, Israel only allowed Western TV crews to enter on Wednesday, embedded with its army. | While the BBC has had Palestinian producers reporting from Gaza, Israel only allowed Western TV crews to enter on Wednesday, embedded with its army. |
| Are you in Israel? What is your reaction to the rockets fired from Lebanon? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Israel? What is your reaction to the rockets fired from Lebanon? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |