Dozens of rockets were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israeli communities on Friday evening, striking areas in the western Galilee. The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese network Al Mayadeen reported that over 40 rockets were fired, with several hitting non-evacuated regions.
The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system intercepted multiple rockets over the Upper Galilee, and sirens blared in Ma’alot Tarshiha and surrounding communities. Despite the defensive measures, nine rockets landed in the Ga’aton area and seven exploded in unpopulated zones, while six rockets fired towards Peki’in were intercepted. A 26-year-old man was injured by shattered glass during the barrage and was treated at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, speaking via videolink on Friday, emphasized the significance of the conflict with Israel, linking it to the broader regional struggle involving Lebanon’s water and oil resources. Nasrallah asserted that Hezbollah’s operations are a support front for Gaza, highlighting the strategic importance of their actions for the future of Lebanon and the region. He claimed that Israel is losing the war in Gaza, and Hezbollah’s attacks are exerting pressure on the Israeli military.
Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, reiterated the group’s readiness to respond robustly to any expansion of Israeli aggression towards Lebanon. Speaking at a ceremony in Beirut, Qassem stressed that Hezbollah’s operations in support of Gaza would continue unabated until the fighting ceases completely.
The recent escalation has seen Hezbollah targeting Israeli troops along the border and Israel regularly bombing villages in southern Lebanon. Earlier on Friday, Hezbollah claimed several attacks against Israeli positions, following reports that Israeli bombings had killed a medic in southern Lebanon.
The ongoing violence has caused thousands of Israelis to flee the north, transforming the conflict into a war of attrition and raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Nasrallah warned that Hezbollah has military “surprises” ready for any Israeli offensive in Lebanon and vowed that the group would not cease its operations until its objectives are achieved.
In response to the situation, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that Israel had agreed to a proposal for an “enduring ceasefire” in Gaza, which he suggested could also help deescalate hostilities along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Biden emphasized the U.S. commitment to a diplomatic resolution that ensures Israel’s security and allows for the safe return of displaced individuals.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in earnest on October 8 following Israel’s intensified military actions in Gaza, has seen Hezbollah launching hundreds of missiles and drones into Israeli-occupied territories near Lebanon. This campaign aims to weaken Israel’s military and espionage capabilities.
Expanded Coverage:
