Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets into northern Israel early Sunday, targeting a wider area including near the city of Haifa. This attack came in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon that resulted in casualties, including a Hezbollah commander and the destruction of the group’s communication devices. The escalating tensions between the two sides have raised concerns of a potential all-out war.
The rocket barrage triggered air raid sirens across northern Israel, forcing thousands of people to seek shelter. One rocket hit near a residential building in Kiryat Bialik, causing injuries to at least three people and damaging buildings and cars. In total, four people were wounded by shrapnel during the attack, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service.
On the Lebanese side, the Health Ministry reported three fatalities and four injuries from Israeli strikes near the border, without specifying whether the victims were civilians or combatants. The situation further escalated following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed at least 45 people, including a top Hezbollah leader, and a previous attack that caused explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to take necessary actions to restore security in the region and allow residents to return to their homes. The Israeli military conducted a series of strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting around 400 militant sites, including rocket launchers. These strikes were reported to have prevented a larger attack, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani.
Additionally, Israel intercepted aerial devices launched from Iraq towards its territory, following claims from Iran-backed groups of a drone attack on Israel. In response to the escalating tensions, hospitals in northern Israel started moving operations to protected areas within their facilities.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces raided the West Bank bureau of Al-Jazeera, which had been banned earlier in the year. The bureau was accused of being a mouthpiece for militant groups, leading to the crackdown by Israeli authorities.
The situation in the region remains tense, with both Israel and Hezbollah engaging in attacks and counterattacks. The risk of further escalation and a full-scale conflict looms large as the two sides continue to exchange fire and casualties. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for restraint to prevent a broader conflict with devastating consequences for the region.