In a significant escalation of hostilities, Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, launched over 50 rockets at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday. This attack targeted several private homes, intensifying tensions in the already volatile Middle East. The assault occurred as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, where a 10-month-long conflict shows no signs of abating.
First responders in the Golan Heights reported that a 30-year-old man was moderately injured by shrapnel, and one house was set ablaze. Firefighters managed to prevent further damage by containing a gas leak, which could have led to a more catastrophic outcome. Hezbollah claimed the rocket barrage was in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Tuesday night that killed two people and wounded 19 others.
Israel’s Retaliatory Strikes
In response to the rocket attack, the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The air raids targeted arms depots in a region known to be a stronghold of the powerful militia. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that these attacks were a preparation for “anything that might happen,” signaling Israel’s readiness for further escalation.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah had already launched over 200 projectiles at Israel, following an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah weapons depot approximately 80 kilometers from the border. This marked a significant increase in the intensity of daily cross-border exchanges. The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has been running parallel to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, further raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
Casualties and Continuing Hostilities
Since the start of the hostilities last October, over 600 people have been killed in Lebanon, including more than 400 Hezbollah fighters and 132 civilians, according to Reuters. The violence has primarily been concentrated along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, although Israeli airstrikes have also targeted deeper regions within Lebanon.
In one of the deadliest recent incidents, the Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot in Lebanon last Saturday, killing at least 10 Syrian nationals, including two children, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
Shift in Israel’s Military Focus
Amid these developments, Israeli Defence Minister Gallant announced a shift in Israel’s military focus from Gaza to its northern border with Lebanon. He indicated that Israeli operations in Gaza are being scaled back as attention turns to the escalating threat from Hezbollah. “Our strongholds are moving from the south to the north; we are gradually changing, but we still have missions in the south,” Gallant told Israeli troops.
This shift in focus comes as Israel accepted a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. However, Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, has rejected the latest proposal, accusing the US of accommodating new Israeli demands. The Gaza conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israeli communities and military bases, has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
With hostilities showing no sign of abating on multiple fronts, the region remains on the brink of a broader conflict, even as international efforts continue to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
(With inputs from agencies)
