Hezbollah rocket hits Haifa synagogue an hour after prayers

A Hezbollah rocket struck a synagogue in Haifa on Saturday, just one hour after the end of a prayer service.

The Avot Ubanim synagogue complex suffered major damage from the strike, but no one was hurt.

“This is divine providence,” Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav told Israel Hayom.

Five people were lightly injured on the way to shelters in various areas of Haifa during the barrage.

Hezbollah launched 10 rockets in the barrage, setting off sirens in the Haifa Bay area, according to the Israel Defence Forces. Only some of the projectiles were intercepted.

Multiple fires in Haifa and the surrounding area were reported after the attack, as well as widespread power outages in Carmel Center.

“All emergency organisations arrived quickly,” said Amir Herel, commander of the Haifa district in the Home Front Command, according to Israel Hayom.

“There were no people in the synagogue, but in the surrounding buildings there were people who experienced a significant blast,” he said. “But as I said, most of the damage is not physical. There’s damage in many apartments, mainly windows. Some vehicles were also burned.”

Hezbollah launched a total of 80 projectiles into Israeli territory on Saturday, according to the IDF.

On Sunday morning, 20 rockets were launched at the Haifa Bay and Western Galilee regions, some of which were intercepted and some of which impacted in open areas, the IDF said.

Sirens also sounded in Acre and the Upper Galilee during the morning hours.