Rockets Launched from Lebanon into Israel After Airstrikes on Hezbollah Targets

35 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, with some being intercepted by Israel's defense systems. This attack came after Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, marking an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Hezbollah launched a barrage of at least 26 rockets, some of which were intercepted. "35 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, with some being intercepted," the IDF stated. This was in response to recent IDF airstrikes on towns in southern Lebanon.

The situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border remains volatile, with a heightened risk of a wider conflict between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire.

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné visited Lebanon to push proposals aimed at preventing further escalation and a potential war between Israel and Hezbollah. Séjourné proposed an initiative that would see Hezbollah's elite unit pull back 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon.

Why this matters: The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to destabilize the region and potentially draw in other countries, such as Iran. The international community is working to prevent a full-scale war and find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel striking deeper into Lebanese territory and Hezbollah increasing its missile and drone attacks on military positions in northern Israel. Since October 7, at least 380 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also 72 civilians, while 11 soldiers and 8 civilians have been killed on the Israeli side of the border. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides as the conflict continues to escalate.

Key Takeaways

• 35 rockets launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, some intercepted
• Escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with near-daily cross-border exchanges
• France proposes initiative to prevent further escalation and potential war
• Conflict threatens to destabilize the region, drawing in other countries like Iran
• At least 380 killed in Lebanon, 19 killed on Israeli side since October 8