What’s happening
Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into northern Israel on Friday, targeting Israeli communities near the border, prompting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to respond by shelling the launch sites and conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Why it matters
The recent exchange of fire marks another severe escalation in hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, reflecting heightened tensions along Israel’s northern frontiers. With both sides exchanging fire, there is significant potential for the violence to escalate into a larger conflict.
The rocket attacks
Throughout Friday, residents in Israeli border towns were alerted by red sirens signaling incoming rocket fire. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rockets which targeted areas near the northern communities of Dovev and Bar’am. The IDF conducted artillery strikes on the launch sites in retaliation.
Israeli counterstrikes
Later on, the IDF deployed fighter jets to hit several Hezbollah sites in the Hamoul area, citing these as a response to the border attacks. Targets included rocket launchers, a military compound, and other terrorist infrastructure. A specific strike by an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Aitaroun, which the IDF identified as part of an anti-tank missile unit.
False alarm and ongoing conflicts
A suspected drone infiltration caused alarms to activate in several northern towns on Friday, which were later acknowledged as a false alarm by the IDF. This incident followed an intense day of conflict on Thursday, with Hezbollah launching rockets and drones, and the IDF countering with a series of strikes in southern Lebanon.
Impact on civilians and military personnel
Hezbollah’s attacks and IDF retaliatory strikes have led to civilian and military casualties. Over recent skirmishes, four Israeli civilians and nine IDF soldiers have lost their lives, while Hezbollah has lost 129 members, with additional casualties, including Palestinian militants, a Lebanese soldier, and civilians, in Lebanon.
International dimension
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has faced aggression from local groups in southern Lebanon, leading to calls for investigations into attacks on peacekeeping forces. This tension underlines the volatile situation in areas under Hezbollah’s influence, which are consistently implicated in the conflict.
Background
The current wave of violence from Hezbollah, which aligns with efforts to support Gaza amidst their conflict, has been ongoing since early October. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are heavily influenced by Iranian backing, making the northern border skirmishes part of a broader regional struggle.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.