The escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah took a dangerous turn last week as dozens of missiles from the Shia group struck northern Israel, retaliating against Israeli airstrikes that killed over 250 people in southern Lebanon. This recent escalation follows months of mounting conflict and confrontations between the two sides.
The latest round of violence began when thousands of pagers and other communication devices used by Hezbollah simultaneously exploded, killing at least 37 people and injuring an estimated 3,000, including children. Israeli jets then bombed Beirut and killed Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander. In response to these attacks, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Kassem announced an “open-ended battle of reckoning” with Israel during the funeral for Aqil.
Shortly after Kassem’s announcement, Hezbollah launched around 100 rockets at Israel, targeting the city of Haifa in the north. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to these attacks with a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday that killed at least 274 people, including 21 children and 39 women, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad.
Hezbollah retaliated by launching 35 rockets at several Israeli bases, with the IDF reporting that the missiles targeted Mt. Carmel and the Galilee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the bombing campaign against Hezbollah from the army headquarters in Tel Aviv, saying he had promised to change the security balance and the balance of power in the north, which is exactly what they are doing.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon as “insane” and warned of “dangerous consequences.” The United Nations Human Rights Office also expressed concern over the situation, with spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stating that the UN warnings about the “regional spillover” of the Gaza conflict appeared to be coming true. She added that the actions and rhetoric of Israel and Hezbollah are driving the escalation in violence.
The low-intensity conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has been ongoing since last October, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands on the border. Netanyahu’s efforts to “eliminate” Hamas in Gaza have been frustrated by this continuing conflict, which began after the Palestinian group’s October 7 raids blamed for the deaths of some 1,200 Israelis. Since then, more than 41,000 Palestinians in the enclave have been killed in Israeli military operations.