A significant escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict unfolded early Sunday morning as Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets across northern Israel, targeting areas near Haifa. This attack marked a major shift in the ongoing hostilities and triggered immediate Israeli retaliation with hundreds of airstrikes across Lebanon.
The barrage of rockets triggered air raid sirens throughout northern Israel, sending thousands of residents scrambling for shelter. The Israeli military reported that many rockets were aimed at civilian areas, a concerning shift from previous attacks that primarily targeted military positions. One rocket landed near a residential building in Kiryat Bialik, injuring at least three people and igniting fires in nearby structures.
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted around 400 militant sites in southern Lebanon over the last 24 hours, stating that the operation prevented a more significant attack. The Israeli response, however, also resulted in casualties in Lebanon, with the country’s Health Ministry reporting one fatality and another injury from an Israeli strike near the border. This came after a devastating Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday, which resulted in at least 45 deaths, including that of a prominent Hezbollah leader, alongside many women and children.
Adding to the complexities of the situation, the Israeli military intercepted several aerial devices launched from Iraq after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Israel. In a precautionary measure, Israel’s Health Ministry announced that hospitals in northern areas would relocate operations to protected spaces within their facilities. Separately, Israeli forces raided the West Bank bureau of Al-Jazeera, which had been banned earlier this year, alleging it acted as a platform for militant propaganda – a claim denied by the broadcaster.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been escalating since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly a year ago, when Hezbollah began firing rockets in solidarity with Hamas. This ongoing violence has resulted in dozens of fatalities in Israel and hundreds in Lebanon, displacing thousands on both sides. While neither side appears eager for a full-scale war, tensions have reached new heights. Hezbollah, while refraining from targeting significant cities like Tel Aviv, has indicated a willingness to escalate further. The group stated it would only cease its attacks if a cease-fire in Gaza were established – an agreement that remains elusive amid stalled negotiations led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar.
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for launching dozens of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles – newly introduced weaponry – targeting the Ramat David airbase near Haifa. This was described as retaliation for previous Israeli attacks that resulted in civilian casualties. The group also mentioned targeting facilities associated with the Rafael defense firm in Haifa as a response to attacks that killed at least 37 Hezbollah members, including two children. While Israel has not officially confirmed its involvement in those incidents, it has stated that such actions aim to disrupt Hezbollah’s operational capabilities.
In a significant Israeli airstrike, an eight-story building in a densely populated Beirut neighborhood was targeted, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including a top Hezbollah official. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that this operation disrupted Hezbollah’s command structure and targeted individuals responsible for attacks against Israel.
The current escalation in the conflict raises grave concerns of a potential wider war in the region. Both sides appear poised to escalate further, highlighting the precarious nature of the situation and the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed.
