Israel struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Hezbollah described the attacks in the north of Israel as retaliation for the killing of the Iranian spiritual leader Ali Khamenei, writes The Times of Israel server. During the night, Israeli air defenses intercepted one missile and several others landed in open space. No injuries or damage were reported.

The server added that this is the first time that Hezbollah has joined Iran’s current attacks on Israel. At the same time, this is the first shelling of Israel by Hezbollah since November 2024, when the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the United States, entered into force.

“In response to shelling of the State of Israel by Hezbollah, the Israeli military is currently conducting strikes against targets associated with Hezbollah,” the Israel Defense Forces said on the X Network, saying that Hezbollah was acting on behalf of Iran and had opened fire on Israeli civilians.

The Israeli army called on the residents of approximately 50 Lebanese villages in the south and east of the country to take refuge in safety from possible strikes on Hezbollah, the agencies said. According to the AP agency, the army called on civilians to leave their homes and move at least one kilometer away from villages and buildings to open spaces.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned Hezbollah’s attack against Israel.

“Regardless of who is behind it, the rocket fire from southern Lebanon is an irresponsible and suspicious act that threatens Lebanon’s security and gives Israel an excuse to continue attacks,” he said on the X network. On Monday morning, the Lebanese government will hold a crisis meeting regarding the situation in the country.

According to the AFP agency, the Israeli strikes hit the suburbs of Dahiya in the south of Beirut. Loud explosions were also heard in other parts of the city. Footage appeared on the networks showing continuous columns of cars stretching through the streets of Beirut towards the north of the city.

Israel and the United States launched a military operation against Iran called Epic Fury on Saturday morning. US President Donald Trump explained the attack as an effort to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Attacks on Iranian targets continued on Monday night. In retaliation, Iran shelled Israel and several Arab countries, some of which have American bases.

The long-standing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah movement intensified on October 8, 2023. At that time, Hezbollah began shelling the north of Israel in an attempt to support the Palestinian terrorist movement Hamas, whose militants had attacked the south of Israel the day before. The Israeli army returned shelling across the border. The conflict escalated last September, when Israel carried out numerous airstrikes on almost the entire territory of Lebanon.

A fragile truce signed on November 27, 2024 applies between Israel and Lebanon, which, however, did not lead to a complete cessation of fighting on the part of Israel. The Israeli army and air force are still attacking Lebanon and claim that the strikes are aimed at the Hezbollah movement.