Hezbollah Rocket Attack in Response to Killing of Hamas Leader
The Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon fired a barrage of rockets into Israel in response to the alleged Israeli killing of top Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon last week. No injuries were reported in the rocket attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that some 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon, targeting the Mount Meron area of northern Israel. In response, the IDF struck a terror cell in southern Lebanon and carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon. The Hezbollah rocket attack has raised concerns of a broader conflict.
Hezbollah Rocket Attack Targets Mount Meron
The Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon fired a barrage of rockets into Israel on Saturday as an initial response to the alleged Israeli killing of top Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon last week. No injuries were reported in the rocket attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that some 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon, targeting the Mount Meron area of northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed that they targeted an Israeli military installation with 62 various types of missiles. Video footage circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke near Mount Meron, but it is unclear if the smoke was caused by impacts or interceptions.
IDF Strikes Terror Cell and Hezbollah Sites in Lebanon
In response to the rocket attack, the IDF struck a terror cell in southern Lebanon, which was responsible for some of the rocket launches. The IDF also carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including rocket launch positions, military sites, and other infrastructure used by the terror group.
The IDF said that a drone struck the cell behind the attack on Metula. The airstrikes were in retaliation for the rocket attack on northern Israel.
Concerns of Broader Conflict
The Hezbollah rocket attack is one of the largest since the start of the skirmishes on the northern border linked to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah previously threatened that Israel's northern residents would be the first to pay the price if a full-scale war were to erupt. Nasrallah reiterated his threats against Israel and vowed to avenge the killing of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut.
The attack on al-Arouri has sparked fears of a broader conflagration, as he was the most high-profile figure to be killed since the start of hostilities. Lebanon has filed a complaint to the UN Security Council over the killing, calling it the "most dangerous phase" of Israeli attacks on the country. Despite the complaint, tangible action against Israel is unlikely.
