On Saturday, Hezbollah initiated a significant barrage of rocket fire from Lebanon, targeting northern Israel and marking one of the most severe cross-border confrontations since the onset of the conflict in early October. According to reports from the Times of Israel, Hezbollah launched at least 10 missiles into Israel’s Jezreel Valley, reaching further into Israeli territory than any previous attacks during the ongoing conflict.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted the majority of the incoming missiles, one individual in his 60s sustained minor injuries from shrapnel. Hezbollah took responsibility for the missile strikes, indicating that their primary target was the Ramat David Airbase, a crucial facility located 50 kilometers from the Lebanese border and vital to the Israeli Air Force’s operations.
In retaliation, the IDF conducted a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, reportedly targeting around 110 Hezbollah positions, including rocket launch sites and operational facilities. The IDF asserted that these strikes were part of a broader strategy to undermine Hezbollah’s capacity for future missile launches. They claimed that approximately 290 Hezbollah sites were hit in their afternoon raids, aiming to dismantle the group’s rocket-firing capabilities and prevent large-scale attacks on Israeli territory.
The escalation in Israeli airstrikes followed previous assaults by Hezbollah, which included the targeting of seven military sites in northern Israel and the Golan Heights, during which around 90 rockets were fired at Israeli forces.
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In addition to military targets, an Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut resulted in the deaths of senior Hezbollah commanders. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported 37 fatalities from the strike, which included three children and seven women. Among the deceased were key figures such as Ibrahim Aqil, the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
In the wake of these losses, Hezbollah vowed to retaliate. Leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned the Israeli strikes as acts of war and promised vengeance. International concerns have heightened, with the United Nations calling for “maximum restraint” from all involved parties. Nations including Germany have urged immediate de-escalation, while the United States is actively working to prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of military objectives, focusing on ensuring the safety of northern residents who have been evacuated due to Hezbollah’s assaults. He emphasized that the military’s operations aim to neutralize the threat posed by Hezbollah at Israel’s northern borders.
Amid rising tensions, the U.S. State Department has advised American citizens in Lebanon to depart while commercial flights are still available, following a heightened travel advisory issued in July due to previous conflicts involving Hezbollah.
