📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders. The attack, one of the largest in the monthslong conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, heightened tensions in the region.
The Israeli military confirmed that \’numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets\’ had entered its territory from Lebanon, with many intercepted. It tragically acknowledged the death of one soldier due to the barrage. Approximately 200 \’projectiles\’ were aimed at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, along with over 20 drones crossing into Israeli territory. Israel retaliated by striking various towns in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah\’s \’military structures\’ in border towns like Ramyeh and Houla.
In response to the killing of Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah\’s regional divisions in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah launched robust attacks with Katyusha rockets, Falaq rockets, and exploding drones into northern Israel and the Golan. The group vowed to continue retaliatory strikes, targeting unexpected locations.
Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah\’s Executive Council, emphasized the group\’s resolve to hit new sites and inflict casualties on the enemy. Nasser, a senior Hezbollah figure, held substantial importance within the organization due to his active participation in various conflicts and a previous war with Israel.
The U.S. and France are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent the skirmishes from escalating into a full-blown war, fearing regional spillover. Washington initially sought calm along the Lebanon-Israel border, independent of the Gaza conflict. However, efforts have shifted towards coaxing Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal to bring peace to Gaza, potentially calming tensions in Lebanon and northern Israel.
Hezbollah’s retaliation stemmed from solidarity with Hamas, sparking the conflict by attacking southern Israel. The group asserts that it will cease hostilities upon a Gaza cease-fire. Meanwhile, Israeli officials contemplate the possibility of war in Lebanon if diplomatic resolutions fail.
The conflict has displaced thousands on both sides of the border, with casualties reported in Israel and Lebanon. Israel views Hezbollah as a significant threat, estimating the militia’s possession of a considerable arsenal. In 2006, a monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah ended inconclusively, prompting current concerns over the recent escalation.