Hezbollah fired rocket salvos into northern Israel Friday, including Haifa, where at least 19 people were injured. Israeli warplanes carried out more strikes across Lebanon while the army called up reserve units amid expectations that Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon are to be stepped up.
It's become a familiar sound in northern Israel - a favorite target for hundreds of Hezbollah rockets since hostilities began 10 days ago.
On Friday, at least five Katyushas hit Haifa, while others fell elsewhere in the north, including Safed and around the Sea of Galilee. Israeli warplanes again carried out strikes across Lebanon, focusing particularly in the south of the country.
Planes dropped leaflets warning civilians living within 30 kilometers of the border with Israel to leave. Israel is also calling up thousands of reservists amid expectations of expanded ground operations in Lebanon. Isaac Herzog, a member of Israel's Security Cabinet, says the Israeli attacks have weakened Hezbollah, but he warns the fight is far from over.
"We've instructed the army to complete the operation, to do it as focused as possible, to hurt military or infrastructure or infrastructure that aids terror. We will try as much as possible to mitigate damages to civilians."
More than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon, the vast majority of them civilians, including many children. U.N. officials say half a million people have been displaced and they warn of a potential humanitarian catastrophe. More than 30 Israelis have so far been killed.
Despite calls for an immediate cease-fire from Lebanon's prime minister, the U.N. Secretary General and others, there is no indication a halt to hostilities is imminent.
