Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Intense Fire After Deadly Airstrike Escalates Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has sharply escalated, with Israeli warplanes carrying out one of the most intense bombardments in nearly a year across southern Lebanon.

In retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets at military targets in northern Israel, marking a dangerous uptick in hostilities.

The Israeli military announced it had struck approximately 290 targets, including thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels, in a bid to weaken the Iran-backed group’s capabilities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it would continue to target Hezbollah infrastructure to safeguard Israeli citizens.

The situation prompted Israel to close schools and restrict public gatherings in northern areas and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Overnight, air raid sirens sounded continuously as rockets and missiles were launched from Lebanon and Iraq, with most intercepted by Israeli defense systems.

Israeli media reported damage to several buildings due to rocket strikes and debris from missile interceptions. Emergency services attended to several people with minor injuries, though no severe casualties were reported.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting Israel’s Ramat David Airbase with a barrage of rockets, describing the strikes as a response to what it called “repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon.” The strikes were among the deepest attacks claimed by Hezbollah since hostilities began in October. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Iraqi militants also claimed an explosive drone attack on Israel.

These escalating exchanges follow an Israeli airstrike earlier in the week that targeted Hezbollah commanders, killing at least 37 people in a Beirut suburb. According to Lebanese authorities, the strike was the deadliest since the conflict reignited nearly a year ago.

Hezbollah confirmed that 16 members, including senior leaders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi, were among those killed. Israel’s military said it had targeted an underground meeting of Aqil and leaders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, dismantling critical elements of its command structure.

The strike leveled a multi-story residential building, damaged a nearby nursery, and resulted in the deaths of three children and seven women, Lebanon’s health ministry reported. The deadly attack further inflamed tensions, following two days of mysterious explosions in Hezbollah communication devices, widely attributed to Israel, though not officially confirmed.

In retaliation for the airstrike, Hezbollah launched rockets targeting Israeli military facilities.

Israel quickly responded with additional airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, signalling a rapid escalation of the conflict.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed concerns over the increasing violence but noted that the Israeli strike on Hezbollah’s leadership represented a significant blow to the group.

Sullivan acknowledged the risk of further escalation but suggested there was still a path toward a ceasefire that could provide security for both sides.

The conflict’s intensity has forced Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to cancel a planned visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Hezbollah has stated it will continue its military campaign against Israel until a ceasefire is agreed upon in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7.

However, US officials indicated that a ceasefire involving Hamas and Israel is unlikely in the near term. Israel has demanded Hezbollah cease hostilities and withdraw from border regions in line with a UN resolution signed in 2006, regardless of any developments with Gaza.

In anticipation of continued attacks, the Israeli military has restricted gatherings and heightened alert levels in northern communities, extending as far south as the coastal city of Haifa. This indicates Israeli concerns that Hezbollah could extend its rocket fire deeper into the country.

Residents in southern Lebanon reported experiencing massive explosions as Israel carried out its latest airstrikes, shaking the ground and lighting up the night sky. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that Israel’s actions would continue until its strategic goals were met, including the safe return of evacuated northern residents.

Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have fled their homes since Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in October in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The conflict has claimed over 70 lives in Lebanon in the past week alone, raising the death toll in Lebanon to over 740 since the clashes reignited in October.

A joint statement from a US summit hosted by President Joe Biden with the leaders of Japan, India, and Australia stressed the importance of preventing the Gaza conflict from spilling over into the broader region, though it did not specifically address the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities.