IDF announces new restrictions for Jerusalem & central Israel after Tel Aviv rocket attack wounds 3

The IDF Home Front Command issued stricter guidelines for central Israel and Jerusalem on Tuesday after an Israeli man sustained head injuries when Hezbollah fired three rockets at central Israel, coinciding with the advance of Israeli troops into southern Lebanon.

New restrictions were issued for Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Sharon region, the Carmel area, Wadi Ara, and the northern West Bank. The guidelines will remain in place until Saturday, after the Jewish New Year holiday, which begins at sundown on Wednesday.

This means that schools and workplaces will only open if a shelter can be reached within the designated time frame, and gatherings will be limited to 30 people outdoors and 300 indoors. Beaches will remain closed.

Siren alerts were activated in large parts of central Israel just before noon, including in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Petah Tikva, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, Rosh Haayin, Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan, among others.

The IDF stated that the siren alarms were triggered by launches from Lebanon, with Israeli media reporting that three rockets were fired at central Israel. Some of the launches were intercepted, the army said.

Reports of a rocket imapct near the Horeshim Interchange in central Israel, following rocket fire from Lebanon. https://t.co/jNkeGqlPaB pic.twitter.com/fcKKA7hGTf

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024

A bus driver was struck in the head and his back from shrapnel that landed near Horashim junction, close to the town of Rosh Haayin. He was treated on the scene and evacuated to a hospital in moderate condition, according to the Magen David Adom rescue services. Two other people were treated for light injuries.

Residents reported hearing loud explosions in Bnei Brak, with debris from rockets and Israeli interceptor missiles found scattered across the area, including on Highway 6.

Ramat Hasharon pic.twitter.com/ogoRHUVlRE

— 🔯🇮🇱The Chosen 🇮🇱🔯 (@yatircohen) October 1, 2024

Rocket debris that landed on and near the highway triggered fires. Israel Police announced that portions of the highway would be closed for traffic temporarily to safely remove the rocket parts.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack saying it fired a salvo of “Fadi-4” missiles at the headquarters of Military Intelligence Unit 8200 and the Mossad headquarters at the Glilot base near Tel Aviv.

The terror group said the launch was “in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, in defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the ‘Khaybar’ series of operations and in response to the targeting of civilians and the massacres committed by the enemy.”

Hezbollah has struggled to keep up the rate of its rocket fire amid the heavy Israeli aerial bombardment over the past several days, as well as the ground incursion that began on Monday evening.

The rocket barrages fired since the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah are significantly fewer compared to the huge numbers of rockets the group launched following the eliminations of much lower-ranking commanders just months ago.

Earlier this morning (September 30th), a Hezbollah UAV was intercepted from Lebanon heading south and apparently on its way to hit the Karish gas rig. The UAV was intercepted by the Israeli Navy at a distance from the rig. The map of potential threats to the rig (whose current… pic.twitter.com/L0Yna438LV

— Israel-Alma (@Israel_Alma_org) September 30, 2024

Early on Monday morning, the IDF announced it had shot down a Hezbollah drone presumably headed for Israel’s Karish gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. According to the Alma Research Center, the drone was intercepted some distance from the rig itself.

Later in the day, the IDF stated that some 15 rockets were fired at the northern Golan Heights, and a volley of around 20 rockets was launched at the southern Golan and the Upper Galilee. Another rocket later fell into the sea near Haifa.

On Tuesday morning, Hezbollah fired around 10 rockets at the area of Meron, before firing five rockets at Metula, where the IDF declared a closed military zone the evening before, indicating the area might serve as a staging ground for the offensive into Lebanon.

Shortly after, several more rockets were fired at Avivim and Metula.

Another 15-rocket volley landed in open areas in the Upper Galilee, sparking several wildfires. Hezbollah also fired 15 additional rockets that landed in open areas in the Western Galilee.