Hezbollah Launches ‘Open-Ended Battle’ with Israel, Firing Over 100 Rockets

Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday, signaling a new phase in tensions between the two sides. A senior Hezbollah leader referred to this as an “open-ended battle of reckoning,” indicating a potential escalation toward all-out war.

Some of the projectiles struck near the city of Haifa, with one rocket hitting close to a residential building in Kiryat Bialik. This attack resulted in at least three injuries and caused significant damage to buildings and vehicles in the vicinity.

This escalation followed Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that reportedly killed dozens, including a prominent Hezbollah commander. Israel also targeted the group’s communication systems in an unprecedented assault.

The air raid sirens across northern Israel triggered widespread panic, forcing hundreds of thousands to rush to shelters for safety.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating that Israel would take all necessary actions to ensure security and restore normalcy for its citizens. “No country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We can’t accept it either,” Netanyahu said.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported three fatalities and four injuries due to Israeli strikes, but did not clarify whether those affected were civilians or combatants.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, spoke at the funeral of top commander Ibrahim Aqil, proclaiming the group was engaged in a relentless battle against Israel. “We admit that we are pained. We are humans. But as we are pained – you will also be pained,” Kassem declared. He asserted that the rocket attacks were just the beginning of their campaign, vowing to inflict economic damage upon Israel.

This uptick in exchanges follows an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday, which claimed the life of Aqil and resulted in numerous casualties, including women and children. A sophisticated Israeli operation earlier had also caused thousands of Hezbollah communications devices to malfunction.

Aqil had been a significant figure for years, featuring on the U.S. most wanted list due to his alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut and in the hostage situations involving American and German nationals during Lebanon’s civil war.

In the United States, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, noting that Washington was engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.

In another related incident, Israeli forces conducted a raid on the West Bank bureau of Al-Jazeera, which had been banned by Israel earlier this year. The Israeli government accused the broadcaster of being a mouthpiece for militant groups, allegations that the network has denied.

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly a year ago, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in reciprocal hostilities. Hezbollah began launching rockets in solidarity with Palestinians and its affiliate, Hamas. This ongoing skirmishing has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, displacing tens of thousands.

Until recently, both Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be avoiding full-scale war, with Hezbollah refraining from targeting major urban areas, such as Tel Aviv. However, the focus of Israeli military efforts has recently shifted from Gaza to Lebanon.

Hezbollah insists it will not cease its attacks unless hostilities in Gaza end, which is increasingly becoming an elusive prospect. The conflict in Gaza was ignited by Hamas’s incursion into Israel on October 7, during which approximately 1,200 Israeli lives were lost, and around 250 individuals were taken hostage. Currently, around 100 hostages remain, a third of whom are believed to have died.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict started. The ministry did not specify how many were combatants but asserted that women and children represent over half of the casualties.

Source: Associated Press and Reuters