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US congressman travels from Jerusalem to Damascus | The Jerusalem Post

Escalating Tensions: Hezbollah Launches Massive Rocket Barrage on Israel, Prompting IDF Retaliation

In a significant escalation of cross-border hostilities, Hezbollah unleashed a barrage of over 200 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday, marking one of the heaviest attacks in recent months amid ongoing conflicts tied to the broader Gaza war. The assault targeted multiple areas, including civilian communities and military positions, forcing thousands of Israelis to seek shelter and disrupting daily life in the region. Sirens blared across the Galilee and Golan Heights, with reports of rockets landing in open areas, causing fires but no immediate fatalities. Israeli officials described the attack as a direct response to an earlier Israeli airstrike that killed a senior Hezbollah commander, underscoring the tit-for-tat nature of the exchanges that have intensified since October 2023.

The rocket fire began in the early morning hours, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility through its media outlets. The group stated that the barrage was in retaliation for the elimination of Fouad Shukr, a high-ranking military figure within Hezbollah, who was killed in a targeted Israeli drone strike in Beirut last week. Shukr was accused by Israel of orchestrating numerous attacks, including a deadly rocket strike on a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams that killed 12 children and teenagers. Hezbollah, however, has denied involvement in that specific incident, though tensions have skyrocketed regardless. The Sunday barrage included a mix of Katyusha rockets and more advanced projectiles, some of which were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, while others caused minor damage to infrastructure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting in response, vowing a strong retaliation. "We are prepared for any scenario," Netanyahu stated in a televised address, emphasizing that Israel would not tolerate threats to its citizens. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) swiftly mobilized, launching a series of airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. These strikes targeted rocket launchers, command centers, and weapons storage facilities, with the IDF reporting that they had neutralized several imminent threats. Lebanese media reported explosions in villages along the border, with unconfirmed casualty figures emerging from Hezbollah-affiliated sources, claiming at least a few fighters were wounded.

This latest exchange is part of a broader pattern of near-daily confrontations that have displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza war, Hezbollah has positioned itself as a key ally to Palestinian factions, firing thousands of rockets into Israel in what it calls "solidarity operations." Israel, in turn, has conducted hundreds of strikes in Lebanon, aiming to degrade Hezbollah's military capabilities and prevent the establishment of a second front. The conflict has raised fears of a full-scale war, with international diplomats urging restraint. The United States, a key ally to Israel, has been actively involved in backchannel negotiations, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning that further escalation could lead to a regional conflagration involving Iran, Hezbollah's primary backer.

Background to the conflict reveals deep-rooted animosities. Hezbollah, founded in the 1980s during Lebanon's civil war and backed by Iran, has evolved into a powerful militia with a significant arsenal, estimated to include over 150,000 rockets and missiles. The group views itself as a resistance force against Israeli occupation, particularly referencing the 2000 withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the 2006 war, which ended in a stalemate but caused widespread destruction. Israel, meanwhile, sees Hezbollah as an existential threat, especially given its proximity to the border and its integration into Lebanon's political landscape as a major party.

Eyewitness accounts from northern Israel paint a picture of anxiety and resilience. Residents in towns like Kiryat Shmona, which has been repeatedly targeted, described the terror of incoming rockets. "We hear the booms, and we run to the shelters—it's become our new normal," one local told reporters. On the Lebanese side, civilians in border villages expressed similar fears, with many fleeing northward to Beirut amid the strikes. Humanitarian concerns are mounting, as the United Nations has reported disruptions to essential services, including water and electricity, in affected areas.

The international community has responded with a mix of condemnations and calls for de-escalation. The European Union issued a statement urging both sides to cease hostilities and return to diplomatic channels, while the UN Security Council is set to discuss the matter in an emergency session. Analysts suggest that while neither side appears eager for all-out war—Israel is already stretched thin in Gaza, and Lebanon grapples with economic collapse—the risk of miscalculation remains high. A single errant strike could ignite a broader conflict, potentially drawing in Iran and its proxies across the region.

Looking ahead, experts predict that the cycle of retaliation could continue unless a ceasefire in Gaza materializes, which might indirectly calm the northern front. Negotiations mediated by the U.S. and France have proposed frameworks for Hezbollah to withdraw from the border in exchange for Israeli concessions, but progress has been slow. For now, the fragile status quo holds, but with each barrage and counterstrike, the powder keg inches closer to explosion.

This incident highlights the interconnected nature of Middle Eastern conflicts, where actions in Gaza reverberate along the Lebanese border. As the death toll from related skirmishes approaches 500 on the Lebanese side and dozens in Israel, the human cost continues to mount. Civilians bear the brunt, caught between militant strategies and military necessities. The path to peace seems distant, but diplomatic efforts persist in the hope of averting catastrophe. (Word count: 842)

Read the Full The Jerusalem Post Blogs Article at:
[ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-863841 ]