Hezbollah rocket attack Tel Aviv, missile launch Tel Aviv, Hezbollah missile interception/ Newslooks/ Tel Aviv/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hezbollah launched a missile at Tel Aviv in its deepest strike yet, as Israel intercepted the attack without casualties. The strike escalated tensions after Israeli bombardments on Lebanon killed hundreds. Both sides continue exchanging heavy fire, raising fears of a broader conflict in the region.
Hezbollah Missile Strike on Tel Aviv: Quick Looks
- Hezbollah launched its most intense strike, targeting Tel Aviv with a missile.
- The Israeli military intercepted the missile, with no reported casualties or damage.
- The attack followed Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, which killed over 560 people.
- Hezbollah claimed the missile targeted the Mossad headquarters in response to assassinations.
- Escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel threatens to spark wider regional conflict.
- Families in Lebanon are fleeing the bombings, causing traffic jams at the Syrian border.
- Israel continues retaliatory airstrikes, killing more Hezbollah members and civilians in Lebanon.
- The U.N. Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on the growing crisis.
Hezbollah Fires Missile at Tel Aviv Amid Escalation
Deep Look:
Hezbollah launched a missile aimed at Tel Aviv early Wednesday in what is being described as the group’s deepest strike into Israeli territory yet. The attack followed a series of Israeli bombardments on Lebanon, killing hundreds and causing widespread destruction. The Israeli military intercepted the missile, preventing it from causing any casualties or damage. However, the missile’s range, which triggered air-raid sirens in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
The missile fired was a Qader 1 ballistic missile, which Hezbollah claims was aimed at the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. This latest attack from Hezbollah comes as retaliation for a string of targeted assassinations and bombings. Hezbollah accused Israel of being behind a deadly explosion last week involving hidden explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies, which killed dozens and wounded thousands, including many of the group’s members.
In response, the Israeli military swiftly retaliated, launching strikes on southern Lebanon, including the site from where the missile was fired. Hezbollah’s attack has heightened fears of a broader regional war, as the conflict spreads beyond Israel’s battle with Hamas in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon earlier in the week had already killed at least 560 people, leading to mass displacement. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled from the southern regions to Beirut and other coastal cities, seeking refuge in makeshift shelters, cars, and public spaces. Many families, desperate to escape the fighting, attempted to cross into Syria, creating significant congestion at the border.
Hezbollah’s assault marked the first time a missile from Lebanon had reached as far as central Israel. While Hezbollah previously claimed to have targeted an intelligence facility near Tel Aviv, this was the first confirmed attempt of a missile strike in the region. The situation has steadily escalated over the last 11 months, with Hezbollah ramping up its attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, a fellow Iran-backed militant group engaged in its own conflict with Israel in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has responded with increasingly aggressive airstrikes and targeted killings of key Hezbollah figures.
On Wednesday, Israel also launched retaliatory strikes, hitting Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including Byblos, a coastal town north of Beirut far from Hezbollah’s typical strongholds. This strike left at least three people dead and nine wounded. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that there are no immediate plans for a ground invasion of Lebanon, but they have refused to provide a clear timeline for the ongoing air campaign.
The back-and-forth between Israel and Hezbollah has already caused significant displacement on both sides of the border. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in northern Israel, where frequent rocket fire has disrupted daily life. Schools have been closed, public gatherings restricted, and many businesses, especially in Haifa, have shuttered amid the bombardment. Even residents who fled south to escape the violence are now under renewed attack.
The Israeli military has moved thousands of troops from Gaza to reinforce the northern front, where Hezbollah has amassed a considerable arsenal. The militant group is believed to possess around 150,000 rockets and missiles, many capable of striking deep into Israeli territory. Since the conflict began nearly a year ago, Hezbollah has fired approximately 9,000 rockets and drones into Israel. On Tuesday alone, Hezbollah launched 300 rockets at Israel, wounding several Israeli soldiers and civilians.
One of Hezbollah’s most significant losses came earlier this week when Israeli airstrikes killed Ibrahim Kobeisi, a top commander responsible for much of the group’s rocket and missile operations. Kobeisi’s death marked a serious blow to Hezbollah’s military capabilities, as he was linked to a 2000 attack that led to the deaths of three Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah confirmed his death, and Israel’s military continues to target senior Hezbollah leaders in ongoing operations.
Meanwhile, Lebanese civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. The country’s Health Ministry reported that over 564 people have been killed since Monday, including 50 children and nearly 100 women, with more than 1,800 wounded. The situation in Lebanon is dire, with hospitals overwhelmed and shelters overflowing. The escalating conflict has prompted the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency session to address the crisis. France, in particular, has pushed for immediate international intervention to prevent further loss of life and a possible expansion of the war across the region.
As the fighting continues, it is clear that both sides are preparing for a protracted conflict. Israel has vowed to continue its military operations until the threat posed by Hezbollah is neutralized, while Hezbollah has indicated it will keep launching rocket attacks until there is a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, something that seems increasingly unlikely in the current climate.
