In retaliation for deadly Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on Hezbollah command centers in Beirut, the militant group launched a large-scale rocket and projectile attack into Israel on Sunday.
Hezbollah reportedly fired approximately 250 rockets and other projectiles, some of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. This marked one of the group’s most significant attacks in recent months, with some rockets reaching Tel Aviv.
An Israeli airstrike on a Lebanese army center resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to 18 others, according to the Lebanese military. The IDF stated the strike targeted an area of combat operations against Hezbollah and that their actions were solely directed at the militant group.
Previous Israeli airstrikes on Saturday resulted in at least 29 fatalities and 67 injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Further strikes on Sunday caused smoke to rise above Beirut. The IDF confirmed targeting Hezbollah command centers and intelligence units in the Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Following Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel, Hezbollah initiated its rocket, missile, and drone attacks. The group framed these actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians and Hamas, both of which receive support from Iran.
Israel responded with retaliatory airstrikes against Hezbollah. In September, the conflict escalated into all-out war, with Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon and the death of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Over 3,700 Lebanese deaths have been reported by the Health Ministry, along with the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people – a quarter of Lebanon’s population.
On the Israeli side, approximately 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed in northern Israel and during battles following Israel’s ground invasion in early October. Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from the north.
Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the war began, despite Lebanon’s military remaining largely uninvolved in direct combat.
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the latest strike as an attack undermining the U.S.-led ceasefire efforts, describing it as a “direct, bloody message rejecting all efforts and ongoing contacts” to end the war.