Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based militant group, exchanged intense fire on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides. This development follows a deadly Israeli airstrike in Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah commanders, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people, including key Hezbollah leaders. The conflict has plunged both nations into one of the most severe exchanges since the 2006 war, with cross-border rocket and missile attacks intensifying and fears of further escalation looming.
Israeli Strikes and Hezbollah’s Retaliation
On Saturday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, targeting around 290 Hezbollah sites, including rocket launcher positions, in an effort to suppress further attacks from the Iran-backed group. This marked the most significant bombardment in nearly a year of fighting, and Israeli military officials indicated that the strikes would continue until Hezbollah’s military infrastructure was dismantled.
In response, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at multiple Israeli military targets, including the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel. These attacks, claimed on the group’s Telegram channel, represent the deepest strikes into Israeli territory since hostilities between the two sides resumed. In addition, Iraqi militants aligned with Hezbollah claimed to have launched a drone strike on Israeli military targets.
Sirens blared throughout northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, warning of incoming missiles. The Israeli military reported that most of the projectiles were intercepted by its aerial defense systems, but several buildings were damaged by falling debris. While no serious casualties were reported, ambulance services treated several people for minor injuries.
The Impact of Israel’s Airstrike
The sharp escalation in the conflict comes after a Friday airstrike by Israel in Beirut’s southern suburb, which killed senior Hezbollah leader Ibrahim Aqil and other commanders. Lebanese authorities reported that 37 people were killed in the attack, including three children and seven women. The strike leveled a residential building and damaged nearby infrastructure, causing outrage in Lebanon and deepening the rift between the two sides.
Hezbollah vowed retaliation for the loss of its leaders and launched rocket attacks on Israeli military installations over the weekend. Israeli officials have defended the strike, claiming it targeted a key underground meeting of Hezbollah commanders and significantly weakened the group’s military leadership.
The airstrike that killed Aqil and other Hezbollah leaders represents the deadliest strike in almost a year of conflict and has heightened the prospect of sustained violence along the Israel-Lebanon border.
International Reactions and U.S. Response
The escalating situation has drawn concern from global powers, with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressing worry about the potential for broader conflict. While Sullivan acknowledged that Israel’s strike had “brought justice” to Hezbollah by eliminating top leaders, he also stressed the need for a cessation of hostilities.
Sullivan’s remarks come as the U.S. seeks to balance its support for Israel with its desire to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. A U.S. summit, attended by President Joe Biden and leaders from Japan, India, and Australia, issued a statement calling for efforts to prevent the ongoing war in Gaza from spilling over into other parts of the Middle East, though it made no direct mention of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Hezbollah’s Ongoing Involvement and Future Prospects
Hezbollah has tied its military operations in Lebanon to the broader Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The group has vowed to continue fighting until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, despite growing international pressure to de-escalate. Israeli military officials have rejected the possibility of a Hezbollah ceasefire tied to Gaza, instead focusing on dismantling Hezbollah’s presence along the northern border and restoring security in Israeli towns affected by the conflict.
The ongoing violence has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, with many residents fleeing from towns and villages in fear of further rocket attacks. The conflict has already claimed the lives of over 70 people in Lebanon over the past week, bringing the total number of casualties in the region to more than 740 since October.
As the situation continues to escalate, both Israel and Hezbollah remain locked in a deadly cycle of retaliation, with no clear path to peace in sight.
