Israel Hit by Missile Barrage in Escalation of Lebanon Attacks

Northern Israel came under rocket fire from Lebanon in what appears to be an escalation of attacks from Hezbollah territory، prompting Israeli fighter jets to begin extensive strikes in Lebanon in response.

One woman was killed in the Wednesday assault، Israeli media reported، while emergency services said seven were wounded. While no group has claimed responsibility for the bombardment، the missiles came from an area largely controlled by Iran-backed Islamist militant group Hezbollah.

The missiles landed further into the country than previous attacks by Hezbollah، one of a number of Iranian proxies operating across the Middle East. The group has been trading fire with Israel since the deadly Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas، also backed by Iran but designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union، into Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

Offensive on Rafah

“This isn’t just a dribble anymore، this is war،” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in a Telegram post. “It is time to change the way we think.”

The flare-up coincides with threats by Israel’s military to start an offensive on Rafah، the southern Gaza city where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge from fighting elsewhere in the enclave. Despite strong criticism from US President Joe Biden and others، Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas maintains a presence in Rafah and the war can only end when the group is destroyed.

Israel’s strikes on Lebanon hit several villages in the Iqleem al-Tuffah southern province in what appeared to be the fiercest attacks since the confrontation began four months ago. At least 200 Hezbollah fighters have been killed during that period، the group says.

Daniel Sobelman، an expert on Hezbollah at Hebrew University and Harvard Kennedy School، said that the latest attack across Israel’s border with Lebanon was different in that it targeted an area “a bit further south.”

But that didn’t necessarily mean an escalation by an organization that until now has maintained what “both parties refer to as the rules of the game، which means both parties for the past four months have stayed below a certain threshold of escalation،” Sobelman said.

Attacking Israel

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech Tuesday that his organization will continue to attack Israel until it agrees to a cease-fire with Hamas. Hezbollah is also considered a terrorist organization by the US.

“The front in south Lebanon is a pressure point through which to weaken the Zionist enemy، its economy and security،” Nasrallah said.

Mediators from the US، Egypt and Qatar are working to secure an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and the return of about 100 hostages still held by the militant group. No agreement has yet been reached.

More than 28،500 Gazans have been killed in the fighting، according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. Israeli officials say about 12،000 of those are Hamas fighters. About 1،200 were killed during the Oct. 7 attack.