What it is about

A Hezbollah cell launched anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli fighter jets over southern Lebanon on Sunday, intensifying a series of cross-border clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group. This attack occurred amid a notable escalation in hostilities by Hezbollah.

Why it matters

This incident marks the first recorded use of anti-aircraft missiles in Lebanon against Israeli jets since warfare efforts intensified eight months ago. The escalation puts a spotlight on the growing threat Hezbollah poses to regional stability, compelling Israel to take defensive and preemptive actions.

In the details

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the aircraft involved were not under any substantial threat. Soon after the missile launch, an IDF drone struck and eliminated the Hezbollah cell near the coastal city of Tyre.

Further retaliation by the IDF targeted buildings used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon’s Chebaa, Aitaroun, and Markaba. Additional strikes were carried out on Hezbollah infrastructure in Aitaroun and a rocket launcher in at-Tiri responsible for a recent attack on northern Israel. A building in Houla, housing Hezbollah operatives, was also bombed by Israeli fighter jets.

Continuation and Impact

Later on, rocket alert sirens were activated in Acre and the surrounding area, and subsequently in Kiryat Bialik, following concerns of falling shrapnel from interceptor missiles targeting a suspicious aerial object from Lebanon. Thankfully, no critical injuries were reported.

The IDF reassured that “the incident is over,” and emphasized the threat received appropriate defensive action.

Broader Context

Sunday witnessed multiple rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, triggering sirens and fires in the Golan Heights. These attacks came amid renewed international calls for calm between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s aggressive tactics included the use of a powerful Falaq-2 rocket and, on Friday, launched a drone in what is potentially their deepest attack yet, reaching 40 kilometers into Israeli territory.

Casualties

Since Hezbollah’s escalation following Hamas’s October 7 attack, border skirmishes have led to 10 civilian casualties inside Israel and the deaths of 15 IDF personnel. Attacks in Syria affiliated with the conflict caused no injuries. On the Lebanese side, Hezbollah reported 334 member fatalities, alongside the deaths of 62 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and dozens of civilians.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.