Hezbollah fires dozens of missiles towards Israel in the Israel-Hamas conflict as Iran prepares to retaliate
Israel-Hamas War: Amid concerns that Iran would strike back, Hezbollah on Friday launched dozens of short-range missiles towards northern Israel, claiming responsibility for “Zionist aggression” in the area. The missiles came nearly two weeks after an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian embassy in Syria killed two of Tehran’s top generals.
About forty rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, according to a Times of Israel story that cited the Israeli Defence Forces. Though some of the missiles hit open regions or missed their target in Lebanon, Israel’s missile defence systems intercepted the majority of the attack’s missiles; therefore, there were no early reports of casualties.
The IDF said that after the strike, two explosive-laden drones that Hezbollah had fired in northern Israel were shot down by its air defences.
After the rockets aimed for northern Israel were intercepted, sirens let out and shrapnel dropped.After two of Iran’s senior generals were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria, Hezbollah launched its assault amid worries of Tehran retaliating, according to The Times of Israel.
Iran is attacked by Hezbollah
Hezbollah later claimed in a statement that the missile assault was in revenge for the previous “Zionist aggression” and that it was directed for an IDF base in Ein Zeitim.
Notably, since the October 7 assault by Palestinian military organisation Hamas, which claimed over 1,200 lives in southern Israel, Hezbollah-led troops have been attacking Israeli military sites along the border almost every day.
The Times of Israel claimed that Hezbollah has said that their assaults are in favour of Gaza in the conflict with Hamas.
The US alerts Israel of Iran’s upcoming attack
The US CENTCOM head, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla and head of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, finalised their assessment of the danger posed by an Iranian strike on Israel, according to a press statement released earlier by IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
Hagari said, “We held a joint assessment of the situation to ensure that our coordination is tight,” and that despite the increased alertness of a possible Iranian strike, civilian orders have not changed.
Hagari emphasised that while Israel’s air defences are “among the best in the world, but not hermetic,” citizens should still exercise caution. “If there are any changes, we will update [the public] immediately.”
“For the last six months, we have been at war, and we have addressed every danger that has surfaced. Our defence is prepared and adept at dealing with each unique danger. In order to defend Israel’s population, we are also prepared for assault with a range of capabilities,” he said.
Iran is aggravating the Middle East crisis, according to IDF
Along with accusing Iran of “escalating the situation in the Middle East” in the midst of the Gaza War, the IDF spokesman said, “We will know how to operate wherever needed.”
In response to a query on the IDF’s estimates of Iran’s danger level, Hagari emphasised that Tehran has been waging war on Israel since the outset of the conflict, noting assaults carried out by what are believed to be its proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
Since the beginning of the conflict, “we’ve been acting against them [all],” he claims. “Iran is intensifying and promoting a regional intensification.” We’ll be prepared to handle the danger posed by Iran. We’re ready for everything and will know how to react,” he said.
The Biden administration used the aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower as a show of deterrence, sending it north via the Red Sea towards Israel. Iran would be able to intercept drones and missiles launched by the ship.
