Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike on southern Lebanon, triggering the largest single-day rocket barrage from the militant group since cross-border hostilities began eight months ago. The escalation follows the Hamas attack on October 7, and it raises concerns about a broader conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Hours ago, the Israeli army targeted and killed a senior #Hezbollah commander named Hussein Khadr Mahdi in a vehicle deep within Lebanese territory.
-🦶🏻Note: This attack is one of the most significant operations by the Israeli army against Hezbollah in #Lebanon.#Israel pic.twitter.com/Rt7zCqsGoD
— OSINT WWIII (@OsintWWIII) May 17, 2024
The Israeli airstrike on Tuesday night in the village of Jouaiya resulted in the deaths of Taleb Abdallah, the most senior Hezbollah commander killed since the hostilities began, along with three other operatives. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched up to 160 rockets into Israel on Wednesday, the largest salvo since the current conflict began. The rockets targeted the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and northern Israel, causing fires due to the summer heat but were largely intercepted by Israel’s defense systems.
This is what Shavuot eve looks like in Kfar Sold: more than ten launches towards Kiryat Shmona. Some of them were intercepted. No injuries were reported.
Earlier it was reported that a Hezbollah operative was killed. pic.twitter.com/SeCB0n7Y1o— CJC (@cj_chep) June 12, 2024
The Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire since the Gaza war erupted in October. This latest surge in violence saw Hezbollah firing 50 rockets initially, followed by another 90 later in the day, marking the most intense rocket attacks by the group since the onset of the conflict. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for at least 17 operations against Israel, targeting military factories, bases, and air surveillance stations.
Israel confirmed the airstrike that killed Abdallah and acknowledged the subsequent rocket attacks. The IDF responded by targeting several launch sites in southern Lebanon.
The ongoing hostilities have resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides. Since October, 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed, while Lebanon has seen the deaths of 71 civilians and approximately 500 Hezbollah fighters. The escalating violence has prompted warnings from Israeli politicians and military leaders about the potential for a full-scale conflict.
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