Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, launched a significant attack against Israel on Thursday, firing over 200 rockets and a swarm of drones at 10 Israeli military sites. This escalation comes in retaliation for Israel’s killing of Hezbollah commander Mohammed Nasser in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, marking a dangerous new phase in the ongoing border conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed that approximately 200 projectiles and over 20 suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. While some were intercepted by air defenses and fighter jets, the attack set off fires due to drones and interceptor shrapnel. Remarkably, Israel’s ambulance service reported no casualties.
In response, the Israeli air force struck Hezbollah military structures in the Lebanese villages of Ramyeh and Houla. The conflict, which has been steadily intensifying for months, has raised fears of a full-scale war, despite both sides indicating they want to avoid such an outcome.
The violence has extended beyond the immediate border area, with sonic booms from Israeli jets rattling nerves in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon for the second consecutive day. This psychological warfare adds to the growing tension in the region.
Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official, warned of further escalation, stating that the group would target new sites “that the enemy did not imagine would be hit.” This threat of widening the conflict has heightened concerns among international observers and diplomats working to prevent a larger confrontation.
The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the fighting, with Amos Hochstein, a senior U.S. official, discussing French and American efforts to restore calm with French officials. However, Hezbollah has stated it will not cease fire as long as Israel continues its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing hostilities have taken a heavy toll on both sides of the border, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Since October 7, when Hezbollah began firing at Israeli targets in support of Hamas, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 300 Hezbollah fighters and about 90 civilians. Conversely, fire from Lebanon has killed 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that while Israel prefers a negotiated arrangement, its forces are hitting Hezbollah “very hard every day” and are prepared to take any necessary action against the group.
This latest escalation underscores the volatile nature of the Lebanon-Israel border and the potential for the conflict to expand beyond its current boundaries, posing a significant challenge to regional stability and international peace efforts.
Source: Reuters
