After rocket attacks on Hezbollah, Israel fires rockets at Lebanon in ‘new phase’ of war – Firstpost

Israeli fighter jets and artillery hit several targets in southern Lebanon overnight, the Israeli military said on Thursday. Tensions are escalating following the mass attack on Hezbollah communications equipment this week.

The military said the airstrikes hit Hezbollah targets in Chihine, Tayibe, Blida, Meiss El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, as well as a Hezbollah weapons depot in the Khiam area.

Israeli media reported that several Israeli civilians were injured by anti-tank missile fire from Lebanon, but there was no official confirmation of this.

The latest Israeli attacks follow a period of growing concern about an escalation of the conflict on the border with southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah for months.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah fired around 20 missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by air defense systems without causing any injuries, the military said.

About ten rockets were fired at the Mount Hermon area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where Israel maintains important surveillance, espionage and air defense facilities.

This week, dozens of people were killed and thousands injured in a sophisticated attack on Hezbollah's communications equipment. Israel has not commented directly on the attacks. Several security sources say they were carried out by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.

Shift focus

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the war Israel has been waging in the Gaza Strip since last October, after Hamas-led militants stormed communities in southern Israel, was entering a new phase, with the focus now shifting to the northern border.

He said more military units and resources would be sent to the border. According to Israeli authorities, the forces stationed at the border include the 98th Division, an elite unit with commando and paratrooper elements fighting in Gaza.

The day after the October 7 Hamas attack, Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on Israel, and since then there has been a constant exchange of fire that neither side has allowed to escalate into a full-scale war.

However, tens of thousands have been evacuated on both sides of the border, and pressure is growing in Israel on the government to bring the evacuees back to their homes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Wednesday to bring the evacuated Israelis back “safely to their homes.”