On Thursday, Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel firing over 200 rockets and deploying explosive drones targeting Israeli military positions. This aggressive response came after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Muhammad Naameh Nasser in southern Lebanon.
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Israel confirmed the attacks and indicated that its air defense systems intercepted most projectiles. In retaliation, Israeli forces launched strikes on various targets in southern Lebanon.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has a history with escalations often resulting in regional tensions.
Actions are part of a broader Iranian-led Axis of Resistance against Israel involving various militant groups across the Middle East.
The cross-border violence intensified following the eruption of war in Gaza on October 7, 2023. The conflict began when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel.
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in almost daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanon-Israel border. These clashes have stoked fears of a full-scale war that could involve multiple countries in the region.
The United Nations and various global leaders have expressed serious concerns about the potential for escalation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other international figures have warned that the situation could destabilize the entire Middle East.
Muhammad Naameh Nasser was a commander killed by Israeli forces. His death follows the killings of other senior commanders such as Taleb Abdallah and Wissam al-Tawil, who were targeted in similar Israeli strikes earlier in the conflict.
In retaliation for Nasser’s killing, over 100 rockets were launched on the day of his death and escalated the attack with an additional 200 rockets and explosive drones the following day targeting Israeli military bases and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
The Israeli military reported strikes on several locations in southern Lebanon including the towns of Khiam, Aita al-Shaab, and Markaba.
These strikes were in response to the rocket attacks and the threat posed by Hezbollah’s military actions.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties on the Israeli side due to the air defense systems, fires and damage were reported in northern Israel.
The conflict has resulted in huge casualties on both sides with hundreds killed in Lebanon and dozens in Israel.
The conflict in Gaza continues to rage with heavy battles, air strikes and artillery shelling in Gaza City. Israeli military operations have reportedly killed thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has stated that the group is prepared for a full-scale war with Israel.
Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have warned of severe consequences for Lebanon if hostilities continue.
Cease-fire negotiations in Gaza are struggling, leaving no clear solution for the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border.
The border has become a battlefield with daily exchanges of strikes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
Farmland has been severely affected with orchards and crops destroyed causing long-term ecological damage.
The conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people. Residents live in constant fear with many unable to leave due to financial constraints or the risk of not being able to return home.
Hezbollah has ramped up its rocket attacks launching hundreds of rockets into Israel in recent weeks.
Israel has responded with airstrikes and artillery shelling, targeting various towns and locations in southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials including far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have made aggressive statements.
Hezbollah has employed a variety of weapons including short-range anti-tank missiles and drones, increasing the precision and impact of their strikes.
Israel has reportedly used white phosphorus shells, which, despite being intended as smokescreens and have sparked spreading fires in both open and residential areas.
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