Hezbollah launched rockets targeting Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, early on Monday, coinciding with the first anniversary of the Gaza war. According to police reports, the attacks injured at least 10 people in northern Israel. Hezbollah, backed by Iran and allied with Hamas, stated that it aimed its missiles at a military base south of Haifa.
Israeli authorities confirmed damage to several buildings and properties due to the strikes, and some individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. In retaliation, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters in Beirut, targeting command centres and intelligence-gathering facilities.
The Israeli military further reported that airstrikes also hit Hezbollah’s weapons storage facilities in Beirut and other locations in southern Lebanon, resulting in secondary explosions that suggested the presence of weaponry. The military criticized Hezbollah for placing its command centres and weaponry among residential buildings, thereby endangering civilian lives.
As Israelis marked the anniversary of the devastating Hamas attack that ignited the war, ceremonies and protests commenced at 06:29 a.m.—the exact time the assault began on October 7, 2023. This initial attack claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people and resulted in around 250 hostages being taken to Gaza, according to Israeli estimates. In response, Israel launched a campaign in Gaza that led to widespread destruction and significant casualties, with Palestinian health authorities reporting nearly 42,000 deaths.
On high alert, Israeli security forces anticipated possible Palestinian attacks on this sensitive anniversary. The October 7 attack was a significant security failure for Israel, a nation known for its robust military capabilities. The ongoing violence has destabilized the Middle East, drawing international condemnation for the scale of the destruction and loss of life.
Israel has dealt serious blows to both Hamas and Hezbollah through targeted assassinations of key leaders. The focus of the conflict has increasingly shifted northward to Lebanon, where Israeli forces have engaged in exchanges of fire with Hezbollah since the group initiated its missile attacks in solidarity with Hamas on October 8.
The situation remains precarious, with fears escalating that the conflict could draw in both the United States and Iran, heightening tensions in the oil-rich region. Following an Iranian missile strike on Israel last week, the likelihood of broader military involvement in the region has intensified, prompting Israel to reaffirm its commitment to the safe return of citizens evacuated from the north while preparing for potential retaliation.
