Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon, has initiated a series of attacks on northern Israel following a drone strike on a vehicle believed to be associated with a senior Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon.
Despite the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) not claiming responsibility for the strike in Nabatieh, tensions have been escalating along the Israel-Lebanon border amidst ongoing clashes since the onset of conflict between Hamas and Israel four months ago.
The target of the drone strike remains unconfirmed, although various Arab and Israeli media outlets have pointed to Abbas al-Debs, a senior Hezbollah official, as one of the casualties. Hezbollah has neither confirmed nor denied Debs’ involvement, stating that his name was mentioned by Israel but not by them. They emphasized that there have been injuries, but no fatalities reported so far.
Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Arab League (Credits: Council on Foreign Relations)
In response to the strike, Hezbollah spokesperson cited Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, implying that their actions on the ground would speak for themselves.
Sirens sounded across northern Israel, coinciding with reports from the IDF of attacks on Hezbollah positions in Khiam, Kfar Kila, and Tayr Harfa, as well as rocket launches from Lebanon targeting Israeli locations such as Kiryat Shmona, Biranit, Mount Hermon, and Metula.
Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar issued a direct threat to Hezbollah, warning of further losses if they continued their attacks. Hezbollah declared its actions in support of Palestinians in Gaza and claimed responsibility for strikes on IDF sites in northern Israel, citing retaliation for IDF attacks on Lebanon, particularly the Nabatieh incident.
The exchange of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon has become a near-daily occurrence since the outbreak of violence involving Hamas four months ago. Hezbollah’s Central Council Member Nabil Qaouk reiterated Lebanon’s defiance against Israeli threats and emphasized the preparedness of the resistance despite severe losses.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has not officially confirmed the target of the drone strike in Nabatieh, nor have they addressed reports of casualties, including Debs. However, Debs was previously identified as a Hezbollah operative involved in establishing an air defense network in Syria.
The reported strike in Lebanon follows a U.S. drone attack targeting Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, drawing condemnation from various groups in the region, including Hezbollah, which criticized it as a violation of sovereignty and support for oppressed Palestinians.
