The Israeli military has confirmed that it targeted multiple sites in neighboring Lebanon linked to the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, the Israeli military announced that ten Hezbollah-related targets were hit in at least seven different areas in southern Lebanon during the night. These strikes come amid rising concerns that the war in Gaza could escalate into a regional conflict.
The attacks, which the military claims resulted in the death of a Hezbollah fighter, were executed following an Israeli promise to respond to a rocket attack that struck a playground in the Druze-Arab city of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for that attack. The Israeli military also stated that they targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot, terror infrastructure, military structures, and a missile launcher in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of one of its fighters, according to a report by Reuters. Following the attacks in Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the city on Sunday, promising a “strong response.” The nighttime strikes announced on Tuesday mark at least three Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory since that time.
A senior source within Hezbollah promised to Al Jazeera that the armed group would respond to any Israeli aggression in Lebanon, including a ground invasion. This was the first time Hezbollah has commented on Israeli threats of retaliation. According to Al Jazeera reporter Zeina Khodr, sources from Hezbollah stated that regardless of the nature of an Israeli attack, “whether limited or not,” the group will respond.
Foreign mediators have reportedly urged Hezbollah to exercise restraint ” so that the conflict can be contained and not escalate uncontrollably,” our correspondent reported. On Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed that their air defense units had intercepted Israeli fighter jets that broke the sound barrier over Lebanese airspace. The group stated on Telegram that the planes were forced by fire “to withdraw back behind the borders of occupied Palestine.”
According to Israel’s N12 and reported by Reuters, a rocket fired from Lebanon killed an Israeli civilian. Under pressure from its nationalist coalition partners, Netanyahu has used tough rhetoric regarding the attack in the Golan Heights. However, it is widely believed that Israel wishes to avoid opening a new front while still engaged in combat against Hamas in Gaza and bombing the enclave.
Israeli officials told Reuters on Monday that while Israel wants to target Hezbollah, they do not wish to draw the Middle East into a total war. Hezbollah has stated that they are prepared for war if necessary, but the armed group is also believed to be cautious about a large-scale conflict.
The United States has expressed that it is working to avert the threat of escalation. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed hope on Tuesday that war between the two groups can still be avoided. “While we have seen a lot of activity along Israel’s northern border, we remain concerned about the potential for this to escalate into full-scale fighting. And I don’t believe that fighting is inevitable,” he stated.
However, tensions are rising as both Israel and Hezbollah fire projectiles across their shared border while accusing each other of atrocities. Israel has claimed that the rocket that struck the Golan Heights killed at least a dozen children and was an Iranian-made Falaq, fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Tehran-aligned groups have denied responsibility, although they claimed to have launched several rockets at Israel on Saturday.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed around 450 people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians. Israel claims that 23 civilians and at least 17 soldiers have been killed in Hezbollah attacks since October.