VIDEO - On the day after the deadly attack on the Haifa Bay, rockets hit the city again Monday afternoon. Seven explosions were heard in the northern city following air raid sirens at 2 p.m. A number of rockets landed in central Haifa.
After another hour of sirens, a second barrage hit at 3 p.m. One rocket struck a three-story building in the city causing two floors to collapse.
Rescue teams dispatched to the scene evacuated 11 injured tenants from the building: Two are in moderate to serious condition, four people sustained light injuries, and five people suffered from shock.
Residents told Ynet that the first rocket fell before the siren went off. Immediately after that the air raid sirens began to operate, and were followed by the sounds of explosions.
"We heard three explosions and then a siren, it's absurd," said Yoram Yehuda, a Herzliya resident who attempted to visit a friend in the French Carmel.
Haifa attacked Monday afternoon (Photo: Gilad Harsheleg)
Ofir, a Haifa resident, heard the explosion in central Haifa from his office, and said that from the morning hours the city has been quiet. "Now I know why there's no body in the streets. I came to work despite everything, because the State must be provided with services and life must go on," he said.
Hizbullah announced that it has launched dozens of Raad 2 and Raad 3 rockets onto Haifa and Safed, reported al-manar television. According to the statement it was in response to the "continued Israeli aggression" in Lebanon.
Blaze in Safed after rockets strike (Photo: Shahar Hala)
Carmiel has also come under renewed attack. A rocket directly struck the fourth floor of building in the city, and two residents have suffered from shock.
Two barrages of Katyusha rockets landed in vicinity of Safed. There are no reprots of injuries. Another barrage landed in moshav Ramot, east of the Sea of Galilee. Fire broke out, but there are no reports of injuries.
Dina, a resident of the Begin neighborhood in Safed, was at home when she heard the powerful explosion. She described the panic in the city. "I spoke with a neighbor and she was really hysterical. I'm not afraid, but the whole family has left – ironically enough to Haifa. I decided to stay at home because I refuse to let Hizbullah disrupt life."
Damage caused by rocket (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
A barrage of Katyusha rockets landed in the area of Akko. There are no reports of injuries there either.
A barrage of Katyusha rockets also landed near Tiberias. There are no reports of injuries. Security forces are at the scene attempting to locate the rockets' landing sites.
Haifa Bay area residents and western Galilee residents awoke to the sounds of air raid sirens Monday morning, before a rocket barrage stuck a community east of Akko, where four people were lightly injured.
Further developments:
- Air force and gunners are continuing massive shelling of Lebanon, Destroyer multiple launch rocket system used for first time against Katyusha launch zones.
- Diplomatic initiative for a ceasefire is developing: British Prime minister and UN secretary-general are calling for the placement of a multi-national force on the border. On Sunday the leaders of the G8 states condemned Hizbullah and its supporters.
- Over 20 Qassam rockets have been fired during the night hours at Sderot, Nahal Oz, and Ashkelon. Two residents were lightly injured by shrapnel and disruptions in the electrical grid have been reported.
- A third front developed this morning in Nablus – First Sergeant Osher Damari, of the Haruv Brigade, was killed by an explosives device during a routine operation to arrested wanted suspects.
- A suicide bomber was apprehended in Jerusalem en route to carry out an attack in the capital.
Miri Chason, Roee Nahmias, Sharon Roffe-Ofir, Meital Yasur, Ahiya Raved, Aviram Zino and Hagai Einav contributed to the report
First published: 13:44, 07.17.6