According to the IDF, "Following the report of an explosion near Ghajar, from investigations by IDF forces who arrived at the scene, it was found that a launch was conducted from Lebanese territory, which exploded near the border, in Israeli territory."
"In response, the IDF is now attacking the area from which the missile was fired, in Lebanese territory. Details will follow later. There are no special instructions for the Home Front."
According to Kan News, the reason it took so long for the IDF and defense system to understand that there was indeed a launch is that the missile launched was a mortar and not a rocket, and the two types of missiles have different ballistic profiles.
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that a missile was fired from southern Lebanon into Israeli territory. At the same time, two explosions were reported in southern Lebanon.
Initially, the IDF said that no launch had been identified. Following this, the IDF clarified that there had been explosions, but on the Lebanese side of the border.
"From an IDF investigation, [it seems] there is no incident in Israeli territory," an IDF spokesman said Thursday morning. "This was an explosion which occurred on the other side of the border fence, near Ghajar. The details are being investigated."
