Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Israeli Town in Response to Deadly Air Raids
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has fired dozens of rockets at Kiryat Shmona, a town in northern Israel. This action was in response to air raids conducted by Israel that resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians and three Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. The rocket fire by Hezbollah is being described as “a first response” to the deadly Israeli attacks on the cities of Nabatieh and as-Sawana.
The Israeli attacks on Lebanon were particularly devastating, with five children among the casualties. In Nabatieh, a rare Israeli attack on the city hit a multistorey building, killing seven civilians from the same extended family, including three children. However, there was a glimmer of hope when a boy who was initially reported missing was found alive under the rubble. In the village of as-Sawana, a woman and two children were killed in an earlier attack.
Israel claimed that it killed a senior commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, along with his deputy and another fighter, in an air raid on Nabatieh. The Israeli military identified the first two men as Ali Muhammad Aldbas and Ibrahim Issa. Aldbas was reportedly involved in a roadside bombing in northern Israel last March and had been engaged in cross-border fighting since October.
Hezbollah confirmed that three of its fighters had been killed but did not disclose their identities as commanders, as they have done in the past. These attacks by Israel came shortly after projectiles from Lebanon killed an Israeli soldier, further escalating the already tense situation.
The United Nations has expressed concern over this “dangerous escalation,” which is happening simultaneously with the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip. There are fears that this could lead to a wider confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, both of whom have been engaged in hostilities across the Lebanon-Israel border.
The Israeli government has made it clear that it will not tolerate aggression from Hezbollah. Avi Hyman, an Israeli government spokesperson, stated, “Our message to Hezbollah has been and always will be: ‘Don’t try us.’ We will copy and paste what we’ve done in Gaza to Hamas, in Lebanon.” This strong stance from Israel indicates their determination to protect their borders and citizens.
The UN peacekeeping force deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border, known as UNIFIL, has also expressed concerns over the recent exchanges of fire. UNIFIL’s spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti, condemned the attacks on civilians, stating that they are violations of international law and constitute war crimes. The devastation and loss of life witnessed in these attacks are deeply concerning.
Both Hezbollah and Israel have stated that they do not seek all-out war. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has made it clear that their cross-border shelling will only cease when Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip stops. However, tensions continue to rise, and there are growing fears of another full-blown conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Tens of thousands of people have already been displaced on both sides of the border, adding to the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution.
The situation in the region remains highly volatile, with cross-border attacks resulting in the deaths of over 200 people in Lebanon, including more than 170 Hezbollah fighters. Additionally, 10 Israeli soldiers and five civilians have lost their lives. As the world watches these developments unfold, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize dialogue and de-escalation to prevent further loss of life and devastation.