Hezbollah Launches Missile Attacks on Israel in Escalating Conflict
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Lebanese Hezbollah has launched a series of missile attacks targeting various locations across Israel, including settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. This retaliation comes in response to what has been described as the most violent air assault by Tel Aviv on Lebanon since the conflict reignited on October 8, 2023.
The missile strikes reached as far as Haifa and Acre, with reports indicating that some rockets fell in Israeli settlements located west of Salfit, east of Qalqilya, and south of Nablus. Both Palestinian and Israeli media outlets have reported extensive damage, including a fire at an Israeli army site near Salfit, and have broadcast footage of missiles descending upon settlements in the northwest of the West Bank.
Sirens were activated in several regions, including Greater Tel Aviv and areas surrounding Ben Gurion Airport, signaling the widespread nature of the threat. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for bombarding multiple military installations, including the Ramat David base and the headquarters of the Northern Corps, marking a notable increase in the scale and reach of their missile capabilities.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, approximately 165 rockets were detected as being fired from Lebanon, with Israeli media confirming that this marks the first use of long-range missiles by Hezbollah since the conflict's resurgence. Reports of injuries among Israelis in the Galilee region have surfaced, alongside actions taken by the Israeli Fire Authority to extinguish fires ignited by the rocket strikes.
In response to the escalating situation, the Israeli military has heightened its alert levels for both air force and air defense systems, with instructions for residents in northern areas extending through the coming week. This development underscores the tense atmosphere and the potential for further escalation in the region.
