Hezbollah rocket and drone strikes ignite Golan Heights

Tensions rose in northern Israel on Sunday as rocket and drone strikes were launched from Lebanon, sparking fires in the Golan Heights. The Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attacks, boasting of using the heavy Falaq-2 rocket against Israel for the first time. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that two drones carrying explosives launched from Lebanon hit areas in the northern Golan Heights, causing fires. Before the drone strike, approximately 10 rockets were launched from Lebanon, hitting open areas in the northern Golan and sparking another fire. The IDF responded by shelling the launch sites with artillery.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with other military officers, assessed the situation on the border with Lebanon. Gallant stressed the importance of eliminating terrorists and Hezbollah commanders. The IDF reported that Israeli fighter jets struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight and in the morning. The targets included infrastructure in Aitaroun and buildings used by the terrorist group in Rab al-Thalathine. A rocket launcher was also hit in Houla. Lebanon's state news agency reported two fatalities from Saturday's airstrike on the outskirts of Aitaroun.

The escalation of the conflict comes despite international calls for de-escalation, including from French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden. The two leaders recently met in Paris and pledged to work to prevent further escalation of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The ongoing cross-border attacks have killed 10 civilians and 15 IDF soldiers and reservists in Israel, and 334 Hezbollah members, one Lebanese soldier, about 90 civilians and 62 operatives of other terrorist groups in Lebanon.

Despite international efforts, rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon and retaliatory airstrikes from Israel showed no sign of abating over the weekend. The IDF reported that Israeli fighter jets carried out a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon against a Hezbollah cell and rocket launchers. Hezbollah claimed at least 10 attacks in northern Israel throughout the day, including using Falaq-2 heavy rockets for the first time.