Eight people were killed by Hizballah rocket attacks on northern Israel on Thursday and three soldiers were killed by an anti-tank missile fired at a tank in Lebanon.
Heavy rocket barrages began at 4 p.m. and lasted until the evening hours. Five people were killed in Akko, and three farmers were killed near Maalot while lying on the ground.
In Akko, Shimon Zribi, 44, and his 15 year-old daughter Mazal, were killed when they left their shelters after the first rocket barrage. Albert Ben-Abu, 41, was also killed. Those killed in Maalot were named as Shinati Shinati, Amir Naim and Muhammad Faour, all three were 18-year-old farmers on their way to work. Dozens were injured in Nahariya including a 2-year-old.
About 160 rockets were fired at Israel on Thursday and about 100 during a 30 minute period.
A resident spotted the three farmers just moments after the rockets landed. “I noticed a car parked on the side of the road with its engine turned off,” he said. “I stopped and saw the three people covered with soot. I summoned local police, and a few moments later I was told that they were dead.”
More rockets fell on Tiberias, Carmiel and Kiryat Shmona; sirens were heard in Haifa and the Krayot area. Since the fighting in Lebanon began three weeks ago, Hizballah has fired 2,300 rockets at Israel.