Israel reports heavy damage after rocket fire from Lebanon

JERUSALEM

A rocket fired from Lebanon caused heavy damage in an Israeli settlement in northern Israel, local media reported on Tuesday.

Israeli Channel 12 said five rockets were fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon into Upper Galilee in northern Israel.

According to the broadcaster, a rocket hit a building in the Kiryat Shmona settlement, causing heavy damage.

No injuries were reported.

The attack came as Israel’s Security Cabinet is set to convene on Tuesday to vote on a US-backed cease-fire proposal with Lebanon.

Israeli media reported early Monday that a cease-fire deal is expected to be announced between Israel and Hezbollah within two days.

Lebanese parliamentarian Qassem Hashem also said on Monday that a cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel is nearing completion and could be declared within the next 36 hours if negotiations proceed smoothly.

“The atmosphere is positive, and cease-fire discussions have reached an advanced stage. It’s only a matter of hours before an agreement is finalized and announced if progress continues as expected,” Hashem told Anadolu.

Israel has escalated its airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets as part of year-long warfare against the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

More than 3,760 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with nearly 15,700 injured and over a million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel on Oct. 1 this year expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara