Israel and the Hezbollah militant group engaged in heavy fire across the Lebanese border on Sunday, causing destruction on both sides. Israel Defense Forces confirmed that dozens of rockets hit Israel, injuring three people. In response, IDF fighter jets targeted Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon. The exchange of fire escalated following a deadly airstrike in Beirut that killed 45 people, including senior leaders of Hezbollah. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also launched drones at Israel, adding to the tension in the region.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is part of the larger war in Gaza, which began with terror attacks by Hamas in October. The ongoing offensive in Gaza has resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides. Hezbollah stated that their rocket attacks were in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. The tit-for-tat attacks have caused casualties and displacement in both Israel and Lebanon.
In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers shut down Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah, West Bank, citing it as an attack on freedom of speech. This move follows Israel’s ban on Al Jazeera broadcasting within its territory and the revocation of press credentials for Al Jazeera journalists in the country. The tension between Israel, Hezbollah, and the media adds complexity to an already volatile situation in the region.
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