On the first anniversary of the Gaza war, Hezbollah rockets targeted Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, injuring ten people in the country’s northern region, police confirmed.
Media reports indicated that the attacks, which coincided with increased tensions in the Middle East, had caused considerable alarm.
Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group allied with Hamas, stated that it launched a missile strike on a military base south of Haifa.
The group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it fired “Fadi 1” missiles. The incident adds to the growing tensions in the region as Israel faces multiple threats on its borders.
According to Israeli media, two rockets landed in Haifa on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, while five others struck the city of Tiberias, which is located 65 kilometers away.
Damage to several buildings and properties was reported, along with minor injuries. Some of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, authorities said.
In response, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The Israeli military reported that their fighter jets had targeted Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, hitting intelligence-gathering systems, command centers, and other critical infrastructure.
These strikes were part of an ongoing effort to weaken Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
The Israeli military also targeted weapons storage facilities located in Beirut. Following the strikes, secondary explosions were detected, indicating the presence of stored weaponry.
Additional airstrikes were carried out in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, aimed at Hezbollah’s weapons depots, command centers, and missile launchers.
Israel accused Hezbollah of embedding its military infrastructure beneath residential areas in Beirut, which they claim endangers civilians.
Hezbollah, however, denied these allegations, continuing to assert that it does not place its command centers or weapons in civilian areas.
The attacks come on the anniversary of the Hamas-led assault on Israel, which marked the beginning of the Gaza war a year ago. The initial attack by Hamas militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of approximately 250 hostages who were taken to Gaza.
This anniversary has reignited global protests and raised fears of a broader conflict spreading across the Middle East.
Commemorative events and protests were held across Israel, particularly in Jerusalem and southern regions, with ceremonies starting at 6:29 a.m., the exact time when Hamas began its rocket assault the previous year. The war that followed devastated Gaza, leaving nearly 42,000 Palestinians dead according to local health authorities, and sparked widespread international outrage.
Israeli security forces are currently on high alert, preparing for the possibility of more attacks as the anniversary unfolds. The military and police have increased their presence across the country, especially in sensitive areas, to prevent any further escalation of violence.
The surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, a year ago, has been considered one of Israel’s worst security failures. Despite its reputation for having a sophisticated military, the country was caught off guard, leading to devastating consequences that have since destabilized the region. The war has had a ripple effect, impacting neighboring countries and drawing global attention to the scale of the destruction and loss of life.
Israel’s military campaign has since targeted Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, both part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes the Houthi movement in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq.
Israel has claimed successes in its operations, with the assassination of key figures, including Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan.
Reports have surfaced that Iran’s Quds Force commander, Esmail Qaani, has not been heard from since Israeli airstrikes in Beirut last week.
According to senior Iranian officials, Qaani was in Beirut’s southern suburbs during an attack aimed at senior Hezbollah officials, though he was not in a meeting with Hashem Safieddine, another high-ranking Hezbollah figure, at the time of the strike.
The Quds Force, part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is responsible for coordinating with allied militias across the Middle East, including Hezbollah. The reported deaths of high-profile leaders have heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with fears that the conflict could draw in more regional powers.
The ongoing war has shifted focus to Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been engaging in regular skirmishes with Hezbollah since the group launched missiles in support of Hamas on October 8. What began as limited exchanges has now escalated into full-scale bombardments of Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, as well as an Israeli ground operation into Lebanese border villages aimed at neutralizing the militant threat.
Israel’s airstrikes in southern Lebanon have caused the displacement of over 1 million people, with casualties rising as the conflict intensifies.
More than 1,000 people have died in the past two weeks alone, and the situation shows no signs of de-escalating.
The mounting violence has raised concerns that the conflict could expand, drawing in the United States and Iran, both of whom have vested interests in the region. Iran recently launched missile attacks on Israel in response to its operations in Gaza and Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Hamas are key allies of Tehran in its “Axis of Resistance.”
Israel continues to emphasize that its primary goal is to secure the northern region and allow tens of thousands of evacuated citizens to return to their homes. However, with the escalating violence, fears are growing that the conflict could spiral into a full-scale regional war, potentially involving global superpowers like the U.S.
