Sunday, September 29, 2024
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire across Lebanon's border on Sunday, escalating tensions amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, with dozens of rockets and airstrikes reported and multiple casualties.
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire across Lebanon's border on Sunday, fueling fears of a wider conflict in the region as the monthslong war in Gaza continues to rage.
"Dozens of rockets hit Israel, destroying homes, cars, and communities," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said. The IDF reported that roughly 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and drones were launched by Hezbollah.
Israeli air defenses intercepted many of the projectiles, but there were "a small number of cases of hits and interception debris falling on" Israeli territory. Three people were wounded by shrapnel, and 20 others were injured while seeking shelter.
In response, Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's attack was retaliation for Friday's airstrike on a Beirut suburb, which killed 45 people, including senior leaders.
Hezbollah's deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, vowed "an open reckoning" without disclosing specifics. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed umbrella group of Iraqi militias, also launched drones at Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military had inflicted significant blows on Hezbollah and reiterated his government's intention to restore security.
The clashes come amid the ongoing war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas' October 7 terror attacks that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. Israel's offensive has killed over 41,000 people in Gaza.
In a separate development, Israeli soldiers shut down Al Jazeera's bureau in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on Sunday morning, drawing condemnation from journalist organizations.
Israel and Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., have traded fire since the Gaza war began, with around 100 people remaining in captivity and a third believed dead.
The situation remains volatile, with concerns growing over the potential for further escalation.