Israeli forces engaged in intense cross-border fire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, marking a major escalation and raising concerns about a potential broader conflict in the region. Israel reported conducting strikes on key Hezbollah positions, while Hezbollah retaliated by launching hundreds of rockets into Israeli territory. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, at least three fatalities have been confirmed, although Israel has reported no casualties from the exchanges.
The situation escalated significantly with a major barrage of fire early in the morning. Israel claimed its military action was preemptive, citing intelligence that Hezbollah intended to launch an attack. In contrast, Hezbollah denied any attack plans but responded with its own rocket and drone strikes. Both sides asserted that their focus was solely on military targets, with minimal damage reported. Air traffic to and from Israel was briefly disrupted, with flights diverted and Ben Gurion Airport closing momentarily. Sirens were activated in northern Israel, prompting the military to raise its alert level and advise residents to stay close to bomb shelters.
Regional leaders are urging a de-escalation of tensions. U.S. President Biden has been briefed on the situation, and Secretary of Defense has reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. Although fears of a larger conflict were palpable this morning, Hezbollah later declared that its operations for the day had concluded.
The ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October. The most recent escalation follows Israel’s killing of prominent Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut, in addition to the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Hezbollah characterized its latest attacks as the initial phase of retaliatory strikes. Meanwhile, Iran has adopted a more cautious approach, signaling potential retaliation but leaving the timing uncertain, indicating that their response may depend on the outcome of ceasefire discussions scheduled for this weekend.
Those ceasefire talks are set to commence today in Cairo, involving delegations from Israel, Hamas, and mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. However, it remains uncertain whether Hamas will actively participate in these discussions. The meetings are a follow-up to recent discussions that took place last week, where the U.S. proposed a plan aimed at bridging the divide between Israel and Hamas. While specifics of this proposal remain undisclosed, a significant point of contention appears to be the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza, with Hamas demanding a full withdrawal that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes. The situation continues to develop, and updates from these crucial talks are anticipated.