Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel as Lebanon death toll rises
Hezbollah announced Thursday it fired rocket barrages at Israeli military positions in the Galilee region, retaliating for Israeli attacks that have killed dozens across Lebanon. The exchange comes as Lebanon's Health Ministry reported at least 12 new deaths from Israeli airstrikes, pushing the four-day toll to 72 killed and 450 wounded.
Hezbollah launched rocket barrages Thursday targeting Israeli military positions in northern Israel's Galilee region, the group announced, marking the latest exchange in an escalating cross-border conflict that has claimed dozens of lives since Monday. In a statement, the Lebanese group said its fighters targeted Israeli sites "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburbs of Beirut."
Lebanon death toll mounts
Lebanon's Health Ministry and local media reported that at least 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across northern and southern Lebanon on Thursday, adding to a toll that has reached 72 dead and nearly 450 wounded since Monday. The strikes have targeted both Hezbollah strongholds and civilian areas, with the southern suburbs of Beirut and multiple border towns coming under repeated bombardment.
Regional conflict context
The intensified Lebanon-Israel exchanges are part of a wider regional escalation triggered by the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that began Saturday. That campaign has killed more than 900 people in Iran, according to official figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior military commanders. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, while Hezbollah has opened a northern front against Israeli forces.
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Ceasefire violations continue
Thursday's attacks represent the latest breach of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israel has repeatedly violated through near-daily strikes that have left hundreds dead and wounded. Israel's broader offensive against Lebanon began in October 2023 and escalated into full-scale war in September 2024, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and approximately 17,000 wounded according to Lebanese authorities. The current round of hostilities threatens to surpass those grim totals as both sides show no signs of de-escalation.
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