Israel-Hamas War: Hezbollah Friday launched a barrage of missiles towards northern Israel. The Tehran-backed Lebanese armed group said the attack was in retaliation to “Zionist aggression” in the region.
Israel-Hamas War: Amidst the fears of Iran launching retaliatory strikes against Israel, nearly two weeks after an Israeli air strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria killed two of Tehran’s top generals, Hezbollah Friday launched dozens of short-range missiles towards northern Israel which the Tehran-backed Lebanese armed group said was in retaliation to “Zionist aggression” in the region.
According to a Times of Israel report, citing Israeli Defence Forces, some 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel. However, there were no immediate reports of injuries in the attack as the barrage of missiles were intercepted by Israel’s missile defence systems, while some impacted open areas or fell short in Lebanon.
Following the attack, IDF said its air defences shot down two explosive-laden drones launched by Hezbollah in northern Israel.
Sirens were sounded as shrapnel fell following the interception of the projectiles directed towards northern Israel.The attack by Hezbollah came amid fears of retaliation by Tehran following the Israeli air strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed two of its top generals, The Times of Israel reported.
Hezbollah attacks Israel
Later, in a statement, Hezbollah said the rocket attack targeted an IDF base in Ein Zeitim and came in retaliation for the earlier “Zionist aggression.”
Notably, Hezbollah-led forces have been attacking Israeli military posts along the border on a near-daily basis since after the October 7 onslaught by Palestinian military group Hamas, which killed over 1,200 people across southern Israel.
Hezbollah has said its attacks are in support of Gaza amid the war with Hamas, The Times of Israel reported.
US warns of Iran’s impending strike on Israel
Earlier, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a press statement that the Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi concluded an assessment with US CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla on the threat of an attack by Iran on Israel.
“We held a joint assessment of the situation, to ensure that our coordination is tight,” Hagari said, adding that there are still no changes in instructions to civilians amid the heightened alert of a potential Iranian attack.
“If there are any changes, we will update [the public] immediately,” Hagari said, stressing that civilians should still remain vigilant, as Israel’s air defences are “among the best in the world, but not hermetic.”
“We have been at war for the past six months, and we have dealt with all the existing threats. Our defense is ready, and knows how to handle each threat individually. We are also ready for attack, with a variety of capabilities, to protect the citizens of Israel,” he said.
Iran escalating situation in Middle East, claims IDF
The IDF spokesperson also accused Iran of “escalating the situation in the Middle East” amid the war in Gaza, adding, “We will know how to operate wherever needed.”
To a question on the IDF’s threat assessments of Iran, Hagari highlighted that Tehran has been acting against Israel since the start of the war, citing attacks by its alleged proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
“We’ve been acting against them [all] since the start of the war,” he says. “Iran is escalating, pushing for regional escalation. We’ll know how to deal with the Iranian threat. We are well-prepared and will know how to respond to anything,” he said.
Aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower was despatched north through the Red Sea towards Israel in a show of deterrence from the Biden administration. The carrier would be able to intercept missiles and drones fired by Iran.
(With ANI inputs)
