The Israel Defense Forces said its air defence systems intercepted missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, in attacks that left two people lightly injured and caused property damage.
A spokesperson for Magen David Adom confirmed that several homes were damaged in the central city of Kafr Qassem. The city’s mayor, Haitham Taha, said the destruction was caused by cluster munitions.
The military disclosed that Home Front Command rescue teams were deployed to an impact site in central Israel following the strikes.
In two statements issued about 20 minutes apart, the military said it had “identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel”.
“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the statements said, later adding that residents were “now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country”.
Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and parts of Jerusalem, as well as Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The latest barrage came more than 14 hours after the military had earlier reported incoming missiles from Iran.
Overnight, central Israel was also targeted by rockets from Lebanon, where Iran-backed group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on military positions. Israeli media reported that six rockets were intercepted.
