Written By Lisa Murimi
Israel conducted over 100 airstrikes on southern Lebanon Thursday evening, hitting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other “terrorist sites,” including a weapons storage facility.Â
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the launchers were poised to fire on Israel, though casualty details remain unclear.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported 52 airstrikes, marking one of the most intense exchanges in the ongoing conflict.
Hezbollah responded by launching strikes on military sites in northern Israel.
These developments follow a series of deadly explosions earlier in the week, which Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed on Israel, calling them a “declaration of war.”
Israeli authorities have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the blasts that killed 37 and injured over 3,000.
IDF officials stated they are embarking on a “new phase of the war,” focusing on northern Israel.
The conflict escalated in October 2023 after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas.
Hezbollah has vowed continued strikes unless there is a ceasefire in Gaza, while Israel has pledged to intensify its efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities.
Tens of thousands on both sides of the border have been displaced by the violence.
