Hezbollah rockets hit Israel’s third-largest city of Haifa earlier today, in the first direct attack on the northern city that evaded the military’s usually reliable air defence systems, Reuters reports.

Hezbollah said it targeted a military base south of Haifa with a salvo of “Fadi 1” missiles. Media said two rockets hit Haifa — 17 kilometres from the Lebanese border — on Israel’s Mediterranean coast and five hit Tiberias 65km away.

Israeli media said 10 people were wounded in Haifa and Tiberias.

“This was the first real hit in the city,” said its mayor, Yona Yahav.

Israel’s military said five rockets were launched at Haifa from Lebanon, adding, “Interceptors were fired. Fallen projectiles were identified in the area. The incident is under review.”

It said 15 other rockets were fired at Tiberias, some of them intercepted.