Israel’s military conducted an attack on Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s drone launches, escalating tension at the border to its highest since the 2006 war between the two sides.
This recent surge in aggression follows the retaliatory actions by the Jewish state against Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, intensifying hostilities from pro-Palestinian militias.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah initiated a projectile assault on Israel, prompting the Israeli Defense Forces to retaliate with firepower, triggering a fresh wave of hostility in the border region. Anti-aircraft sirens blared in Rosh Hanikra, a tourist spot in Israel’s northwest bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean, as the Israeli military confirmed multiple rocket launches originating from Lebanon.
Israel’s anti-air defense system successfully intercepted several of the launches, while others landed in uninhabited areas as per military protocol, reported an Israeli military spokesperson. The Israeli Defense Forces targeted the source of the attacks and additional areas within Lebanon, aiming to counter the threat.
Later in the day, the Israeli military reported the landing of “three hostile aircraft” from Lebanon in northern Israel near the Mount Dov area, internationally recognized as the Shebaa Farms, situated at the border of both countries. Israeli fighter jets struck “military positions” and Hezbollah infrastructure following further projectile launches towards Israel in the afternoon, as stated in a military release.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for five attacks on northern Israel, including the launch of large-caliber ‘Burkan’ missiles at a military post and a simultaneous assault on multiple soldier groups using drones and artillery. The Shiite group also acknowledged two other armed actions without specifying military positions, along with a guided missile launch.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported at least three casualties due to an Israeli airstrike on a residence in the country’s south, including a Hezbollah fighter named Ali Ahmed Bazzi. While the agency didn’t specify if all victims were civilians or the target of the attack, Hezbollah confirmed Bazzi’s affiliation with their ranks in a statement.
The Israeli-Lebanese border is witnessing its most intense standoff since the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by escalating aggression from pro-Palestinian militias following the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and the Jewish state. Amid this ongoing conflict, over 171 deaths have been recorded: 13 in Israel – comprising 9 soldiers and 4 civilians – and at least 159 in Lebanon, including 122 Hezbollah members, 16 Palestinian militia members, one soldier, and 20 civilians.
Israel has mobilized over 200,000 troops along its northern border, leading to the displacement of thousands. Approximately 80,000 individuals have been evacuated from northern Israeli communities, while more than 70,000 have fled southern Lebanon due to the violence.
