A terrorist rocket from Lebanon hit near the Israeli city of Ariel in central Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces said on Monday afternoon.
“Following the alerts that were activated at 5:12 p.m. in the Samaria area, approximately ten launches were detected that crossed from the territory of Lebanon [into Israel], and falls were detected in an open area,” the military confirmed.
Air-raid sirens were activated in Ariel as well as in the surrounding towns of Alei Zahav, Alfei Menashe, Barkan, Beit Aryeh-Ofarim, Brukhin, Elkana, Etz Efraim, Havat Gilad, Havat Yair, Immanuel, Karnei Shomron, Kedumim, Kiryat Netafim, Nofim, Peduel, Revava, Shaarei Tikvah and Yakir.
According to initial reports, the Hezbollah rocket struck just outside a pre-military academy in Peduel, located just east of the security barrier in northern Samaria and less than 10 miles from Israel’s central region.
Damage was also caused to houses in the Palestinian village of Deir Istiya, Israel’s Army Radio reported.
The projectile, which is believed to have been aimed at the Tel Aviv area, traveled at least 100 kilometers (62 miles), the Ynet news outlet said.
The Judea and Samaria District of Israel’s National Fire and Rescue Authority said in a statement that firefighters were dispatched after “several launches were carried out toward Samaria,” causing blazes.
“All incidents are under control, and there is no fear of the fire spreading,” the statement noted.
The Samaria Regional Council, which administers Israeli communities in central and northern Samaria, said that council head Yossi Dagan “opened the council’s emergency headquarters and ordered the welfare teams to prepare to provide assistance to the residents as needed.
“I am personally in contact with senior officials in the IDF and the security echelons,” Dagan said in a statement shared with residents.
