The militant, Lebanon-based group Hezbollah took credit for rockets fired at Israel near the border on Friday.
Hezbollah said the barrage of rocket fire came in response to Israeli strikes from a day earlier, according to the Associated Press. Israeli leaders, conversely, explained that their attack was in retaliation to 19 rockets that were launched from Lebanon.
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“We do not wish to escalate to a full war, yet of course we are very prepared for that,” said Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces.
Shefler said Hezbollah took responsibility for the attack on Friday, but not the rocket fire from the previous day. The Israeli Defense Force said that of the 19 rockets fired on Friday, 10 were intercepted by the Iron Dome, six landed in “open areas,” while three landed in Lebanon territory.
United Nations peacekeeping troops deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border detected rocket launches by Lebanon and subsequent return fire by Israel.
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“This is a very serious situation, and we urge all parties to cease fire,” the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon said.
Iran was accused of attacking the Mercer Street tanker while it was in international waters last week. Two civilians were killed in the incident.
The United States, United Kingdom, and Israel have discussed retaliatory actions, though Iran has issued a warning to them about possible consequences.
