BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Israel conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks that initiated the ongoing conflict. Israel’s Defense Minister declared that all options were being considered in potential retaliation against Iran.
Late Sunday, Hezbollah launched rockets that bypassed Israeli air defense systems and struck Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, damaging buildings and wounding ten people, according to Israeli media. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting a military site south of Haifa with “Fadi 1” missiles.
In response, Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, marking the most intense bombardment of the Lebanese capital since Israel escalated its campaign against Hezbollah the previous month. Fighter jets targeted Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters and weapons storage facilities in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa area.
The escalation follows Hamas-led rocket attacks from Gaza that started the conflict on October 7 last year, which killed 1,200 people and led to over 250 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has resulted in nearly 42,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health authorities.
As the anniversary approached, pro-Palestinian protests took place worldwide, while tensions between Israel and Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas have grown. Iran launched a missile attack on Israel in response to its operations in Lebanon and Gaza. Israel continues to vow retaliation, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized that Israel will independently decide its next actions, despite close coordination with the U.S.
The U.S. government acknowledged the role of military pressure in diplomacy but warned of the potential for miscalculations, while France called for halting arms shipments to Israel. Israel has rejected this, citing concerns that it would benefit Iran.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Sunday killed six people in Kayfoun and six more, including three children, in Qmatiye. In Gaza, 26 people were killed and 93 wounded in airstrikes, with Israel claiming precision strikes on Hamas militants.
The leadership of Hezbollah is currently managed by a joint command after recent Israeli strikes killed key figures, including Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani has also been unaccounted for since last week’s attacks on Beirut. The conflict, which began with cross-border strikes by Hezbollah in support of Hamas, has intensified, with more than 2,000 deaths in Lebanon over the past year.
The United Nations has criticized Israeli airstrikes for violating international law by hitting civilian infrastructure, while Israel insists it targets military capabilities and blames Hezbollah and Hamas for operating among civilians. Lebanese authorities dispute this, saying civilians have been directly targeted.
