On Sunday, Hezbollah launched a significant missile attack on Israel, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict. The Iranian-backed group announced the barrage as retaliation for the assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut last month.
In anticipation of the attack, Israeli jets targeted locations in Lebanon shortly before the missiles were fired. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they had identified preparations for the missile launch and responded by striking “terror targets” in Lebanon.
Following the missile launch, Israel’s cabinet convened for an emergency meeting, and flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv were suspended. The defense minister declared a state of emergency as warning sirens sounded in northern Israel, and the Iron Dome defense system intercepted several rockets. The Magen David Adom ambulance service was put on high alert.
The escalation comes after a missile strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights last month, which killed 12 people. This incident, along with the assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, has intensified the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working to mediate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas amid ongoing violence in Gaza. The recent missile barrage and subsequent airstrikes reflect the growing volatility in the region, with both Hezbollah and Israel exchanging fire while avoiding a full-scale escalation.
