Lebanon's Hezbollah movement launched a substantial rocket attack on northern Israel on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. This assault came in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Taleb Sami Abdullah, in southern Lebanon on Tuesday night.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that over 200 projectiles crossed the border, triggering fires but causing no casualties. The barrage was described by Israeli media as "unprecedented" since the latest surge in hostilities began. Sirens sounded throughout northern Israel as the rockets fell, prompting immediate responses from the IDF, which struck launchers and "terrorist infrastructure sites" in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah's rocket fire and missile launches represent the most significant attack since the conflict's escalation eight months ago. This intensification comes as the organization vowed to increase the intensity, force, and quantity of its operations following the assassination of Abdullah. Speaking at his funeral, Hezbollah's Executive Council head, Hashem Safieddine, stated, "We will increase our operations in intensity, strength, quantity, and quality."
The conflict has seen daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7. Hezbollah has positioned itself in support of Hamas, with both groups being designated as terrorist organizations by Israel, the UK, and other countries.
The IDF's retaliatory strikes targeted multiple locations in southern Lebanon, including Yaroun, Hanine, Yater, Taybeh, Markaba, Rachaya al-Foukhar, and Tallouseh. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli airstrikes destroyed a house in Yater, injuring one person, and used phosphorous shells against Odaisseh.
By late afternoon, the number of projectiles launched from Lebanon had reached 215, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper. Fires sparked by the rockets endangered "strategic sites and facilities" in northern Israel, with firefighters, volunteers, park rangers, and soldiers working to control the blazes.
Hezbollah is firing hundreds of rockets into the Christian heartland of N. Israel … in the idyllic hills around Galilee….where Jesus lived, where most of his ministry took place, near to where the Sermon on the Mount was preached…where millions of Christians visit today. pic.twitter.com/92Gh0NhFcG — Rev. Johnnie Moore (@JohnnieM) June 12, 2024
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for at least 17 operations against Israel on Wednesday, targeting Israeli military headquarters and surveillance stations. The IDF confirmed that Abdullah and three other Hezbollah operatives were killed in the strike on a Hezbollah command-and-control center in Jouaiyya. Abdullah was described as "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon," responsible for numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians.
The escalation has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Lebanese authorities and the UN reported that over 375 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 88 civilians. The Israeli military reported 18 soldiers and 10 civilian deaths. Tens of thousands have been displaced from border communities in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
The conflict's intensification follows a period of heightened tensions. Last week, Hezbollah rocket fire ignited wildfires in northern Israel, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn of "very strong action in the north." He emphasized Israel's commitment to restoring security in both the south and north.
The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, indicated that Israeli forces are "ready to move to an offensive" against Hezbollah if necessary. This readiness reflects the broader regional tensions and the ongoing threat posed by Hezbollah's actions.
