Hezbollah has launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides. The attack comes after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander earlier this week, intensifying the already volatile situation.
Hezbollah announced that the rocket fire was a response to an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Shama, which resulted in the deaths of several civilians, including four Syrian nationals. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed the casualties and reported that the strike also wounded five Lebanese nationals. The deceased were identified as farm workers from the same family.
In response to the rocket attack, the Israeli military’s air force targeted the Hezbollah launcher used for the projectiles. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that the air force had struck the launcher shortly after the rockets were fired.
The violence between Hezbollah and Israel has been ongoing since the Gaza war began in October, with frequent exchanges of fire. Hezbollah’s recent attack marks the first major offensive since the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr on Tuesday. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had vowed retaliation for Shukr’s death, which followed hours after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, a strike Iran and Hamas attribute to Israel. Israel has not commented on the Haniyeh killing.
The conflict has had severe consequences, with at least 542 people killed on the Lebanese side, including 114 civilians, and 22 soldiers and 25 civilians reported dead on the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights. The situation remains highly tense, with ongoing exchanges of fire and mounting casualties on both sides.
Sources By Agencies
