In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at northern Israel on Thursday. This attack was a direct response to an Israeli airstrike earlier in the week that resulted in the death of a top Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr.
Hezbollah Attack and Israel Retaliation
The Iran-backed Hezbollah group launched dozens of Katyusha rockets targeting northern Israel. The attack was Hezbollah’s first since an Israeli airstrike killed its top commander Fuad Shukr on Tuesday evening.
The Hezbollah said it launched dozens of Katyusha rockets “in response to the Israeli enemy’s attack on the southern village of Shama that killed several civilians”.
The Israel Defense Forces(IDF) said, “Following the alerts that were activated at 21:44 in the Western Galilee area, a number of launches were detected that crossed from Lebanon, some of them were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, there were no casualties.”
- Only five rockets from the barrage entered Israeli territory, causing no reported casualties or significant damage.
- The Israeli military responded swiftly, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeting and destroying the rocket launcher used by Hezbollah shortly after the attack.
בהמשך להתרעות שהופעלו בשעה 21:44 במרחב הגליל המערבי, זוהו מספר שיגורים שחצו מלבנון, חלקם יורטו והשאר נפלו בשטחים פתוחים, אין נפגעים.
בסגירת מעגל מהירה, מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו את המשגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה ממנו זוהו השיגורים ממרחב יאטר שבדרום לבנון>> pic.twitter.com/kXF0r8j2dz
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) August 1, 2024
“In a rapid closing of the circle, fighter jets of the Air Force attacked the launcher of the Hezbollah terrorist organization from which the launches from the Yatar area in southern Lebanon were detected,” IDF said.
Also Read: While Hezbollah Kills 12 Children, Islamists Spin Blame on Israel
Israel says, “We will not allow anyone to terrorize the people of Israel.”
also said, “It holds the Lebanese government responsible for EVERY single Hezbollah rocket fired toward Israel.”
Northern Israel right now: we hold the Lebanese government responsible for EVERY single Hezbollah rocket fired toward Israel.
We will not allow anyone to terrorize the people of Israel. pic.twitter.com/ZqN1tHk7cR
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) August 1, 2024
Hezbollah Head Nasrallah warns Israel, “Laugh a bit and you will cry a lot,”
After 3 consecutive series of targeted killings all within a 24-hour window of
- The assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. An event that has also been attributed to Israeli actions. Although Israel has said there was no other aerial strike, not a missile and not an Israeli drone, in the entire Middle East that night, officially.
- The Elimination of Muhammad Deif. The Hamas military wing commander Mohammed Deif had been killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip on July 13.
- And the elimination of Hezbollah’s one of the top commanders Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
This has provoked strong reactions from Iran and its allied groups.
In a virtual video speech to mourners gathered around Shukur’s coffin in a Beirut suburb, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared, “We have entered a new phase that is different from the previous period.”
Referring to the Israelis, he said, “Do they expect that Hajj Ismail Haniyeh will be killed in Iran and Iran will remain silent?”
“Laugh a bit and you will cry a lot,” he warned.
Also Read: Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “We consider it our duty to take vengeance”
- Iran and its proxies vow to retaliate against Israel after the assassination attempt of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, raising fears of an all-out war.
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised a “harsh punishment” for the strike that killed Haniyeh and his bodyguard, report.
- Iran has officially informed the United Nations of its intent to carry out a retaliatory action of self-defense against Israel per Article 51 of the UN charter.
IDF on ‘high alert’ as Biden vows US to defend Israel against ‘all threats from Iran’
The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it was on “high alert” as the country braces for a response to the assassinations this week of Hezbollah’s military chief in Beirut and Hamas’s leader in Tehran, but its spokesman pledged that the military knows how to handle any threat.
While ‘Biden says killing of Haniyeh not helpful for Gaza truce negotiations’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke with US President Joe Biden, who the White House said stressed America’s commitment to defending Israel’s security “against all threats from Iran.” The two discussed new US military deployments to protect against possible attacks from ballistic missiles and drones.
The phone call came as Israeli television reported that Israel was working to finalize the coordination of a regional and international coalition to thwart a potential response by Iran and Hezbollah to the killings of Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr.
As happened when Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at the country on April 13 and 14. And Suadi and Jordan’s air defense shot down many of them.
#BREAKING: @IsraeliPM and @POTUS discuss Iran’s ongoing aggression against Israel, with @VP joining the call pic.twitter.com/HZrJ532TEi
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) August 1, 2024
Also Read: Israel Strikes Yemen Following Historic Houthi Drone Attack