JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel’s government put its forces on high alert Friday after days of taking rocket fire from Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and – for the first time in years – Syria. Many experts are pointing at Iran as the source of the escalation.
More than 30 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, and at least six rockets were launched from Syria.
Following the rocket attacks on both its northern and southern regions throughout the beginning of the Passover holiday, Israel struck back at targets inside the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.
In an apparent move to thwart Iran’s meddling, the U.S. Navy is deploying a guided-missile submarine, capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the region. It released pictures of the submarine crossing the Suez Canal on Friday.
Israel is also reeling from terror attacks inside its borders. A ramming attack on the Tel Aviv Promenade wounded several British and Italian tourists. The terrorist also shot and killed a 35-year-old lawyer from Italy before he was shot by police.
Meanwhile, thousands of family members and friends gathered in Kfar Etzion in Judea to attend the funeral of two British-Israeli sisters, Maia and Rena Dee, after a Palestinian terrorist murdered them in a shooting attack on their car Friday in the northern Jordan Valley. Their mother was also shot and is in serious condition.
The flashpoint came last Thursday night in Jerusalem when Muslim men barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Israeli police negotiated with them to leave, but they refused. When the police entered the mosque, the men set off fireworks and threw stones in retaliation, and video spread throughout the Muslim world, providing the pretext to attack Israel.
The escalating tension here comes as Muslims are celebrating Ramadan on the Temple Mount, Jews are observing Passover, including the priestly blessing Sunday at the Western Wall, and Christians gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden Tomb to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
It’s rare that all the holidays occur at the same time of the year, adding to the pressure on Israel to maintain the peace.
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