Two killed in Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel

At least two people were killed today as rockets fired by Hezbollah guerrillas pounded the northern Israeli city of Haifa, police said.

Television footage showed thick, black smoke billowing off the roof of a damaged house soon after a dozen explosions shook Israel’s third-largest city.

At least 13 other people across northern Israel were wounded in the attacks, rescue officials said.

“This was a very significant barrage on Haifa…and this is an opportunity to tell the residents the war is not over. Stay in the secure areas,” Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav told Israel’s Channel 2 television.

Haifa residents had stayed away from work since last week, when eight people were killed in a missile attack on a train maintenance depot in the city centre. However, they were told they could return to work today if their workplaces had a secure bomb shelter.

Just before 8am Irish time, air raid sirens sounded throughout the city, followed by the explosions.

Police spokesman Avi Zelba said 13 rockets fell in the area, with most landing in open areas. One hit the house while another struck a major road, rescue officials said.

Police said a car was not directly hit by the rocket, but the driver was injured by shrapnel and he slammed into a barrier, killing him.

Television footage showed a white car with its bonnet smashed in and its windscreen and driver-side door peppered with holes.

While rescue workers were clearing the scene a new siren went off, sending them scrambling to take cover next to a rocky hill at the side of the road.

Israeli media also reported that a factory in Haifa was hit and several people inside were injured.

“My whole factory is totally ruined,” owner David Tiboni told Israel Television.

Dolly Marom, 40, was in the cellar of her building in Haifa’s Nesher district when a rocket hit the building and blew the door open.

“It could kill us and that’s it, and we did nothing to anyone,” she said. “They’re talking about the bombing in Beirut. They should see what happened in my house.”

Rockets also pounded other communities throughout northern Israel.

With the attack today, a total of 17 people have been killed by Hezbollah rockets fired over the past two weeks, and 19 soldiers were killed in fighting in Lebanon.

Speaking before the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the government would discuss ways to help the residents of northern Israel, thousands of whom have been living in bomb shelters since the fighting in Lebanon started.

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said that the 12-day-old offensive in Lebanon would continue as Israel tries to push Hezbollah guerrillas away from the border.

“We are continuing with the operation, and the goal is to create a situation in which we have as broad a space for diplomatic movement as possible,” Peretz said after meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“The goals we set for ourselves will be achieved. We certainly see a combination of a military operation that is fulfilling its role plus broad international activity to complete the process.”

The meeting between Mr Steinmeier and Mr Peretz was one of a series of diplomatic meetings aimed at ending the offensive in Lebanon.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was also scheduled to meet Israeli officials. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was heading to the region as well.