Hezbollah stated that it fired “dozens” of rockets at a military base in northern Israel on Thursday, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon, and reported that four of its fighters had been killed.
Concerns about a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah have heightened in recent weeks due to increasing threats and regular cross-border fire exchanges since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel triggered conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas ally Hezbollah stated that “in response to the enemy attacks that targeted the city of Nabatiyeh and village of Sohmor”, its fighters bombed “the main air and missile defence base of the (Israeli) northern area command… with dozens of Katyusha rockets”.
In separate statements, Hezbollah reported that four of its fighters, including one from Sohmor in eastern Lebanon, had been killed. The group also claimed responsibility for two additional attacks on Israeli troops and positions, one of which involved drones.
The Israeli military said in a statement that “approximately 35 launches were identified crossing from Lebanon”.
Air defences “successfully intercepted most of the launches. No injuries were reported,” it added.
It stated that air strikes “eliminated” three Hezbollah operatives, one in the Sohmor area and two in the southern part of the country.
The military also stated that “two UAVs (drones) that were identified crossing from Lebanon fell” in northern Israel, reporting no injuries.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, during a visit to Washington on Wednesday, stated that Israel did not seek war in Lebanon but warned it could bring the country back to the “Stone Age” if diplomatic efforts failed.
Amid Western diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate tensions in recent months, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Beirut on Tuesday and cautioned against “miscalculation” that could lead to full-scale war, urging “extreme restraint.”
The violence in Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of 485 people, mostly fighters but also including 94 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
On the Israeli side, authorities report at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians killed.