Israel shoots down rockets from Lebanon during Blinken visit to Tel Aviv

Israel shoots down rockets from Lebanon during Blinken visit to Tel Aviv

Israel’s air force shot down two rockets from Lebanon that set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the military said, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on a visit to the city.

Some senior US State Dept. officials and traveling press at Blinken’s hotel left the breakfast hall and rushed to the shelter downstairs along with other hotel guests and staff when the sirens went off.

The downing of the rockets came shortly after Israeli forces intercepted two drones launched from the east targeting the Red Sea port city of Eilat, the military said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on Oct. 22, 2024. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept missiles launched towards Tel Aviv on Oct. 23, 2024. AP

There were no immediate reports of injuries in either the drone or rocket attacks.

Blinken waves as he boards a plane at Ben Gurion International Airport, as he departs for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AP

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq group said it attacked Eilat with drones twice on Wednesday.

The pro-Iranian militant group said it struck “vital” targets.

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