Israeli military jets strike various sites in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah’s weapons depots and infrastructure. This came after Israel blamed Hezbollah for Saturday’s rocket attack on a football field in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 people.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that this attack crossed a red line and accused Hezbollah of intentionally targeting civilians.
Hezbollah denied responsibility, and there are unconfirmed reports that the event might have been caused by a failed Israeli missile. Iran, which braces Hezbollah, gives fair warning to Israel against using the incident as an excuse for further strike. The Iranian Foreign Ministry censured Israel, accusing it of trying to distract from its actions in Gaza.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, supported Israel’s right to defend itself and indicated that Hezbollah was likely responsible for the attack. He emphasized the U.S. wish to see an end to the ongoing conflicts affecting Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese.
According to Al Jazeera’s reporter Zeina Khodr, the latest Israeli strikes were intended as a message to Hezbollah, observing that similar activities have happened over the past 10 months. She suggested that the nature of Israel’s response, whether targeting military or civilian sites, this could determine the future of the conflict that began on October 8.
Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi claimed that the rocket utilized in the attack was an Iranian-made Falaq, used by Hezbollah. This type of rocket is designed to kill civilians, he said. Halevi also mentioned that the Israeli military is arranging for further fighting in the north while ongoing its operations in Gaza.
The UN, U.S., and Europe union condemned the rocket attack, emphasizing all parties to avoid raising the conflict. The EU’s foreign policy chief called for an independent international inquiry.
Since the war started on Gaza, over 350 people, including 100 civilians, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. More than 30 people, including 10 civilians, have been killed in attacks from Lebanon into Israel.
