Hezbollah and Israel engaged in massive aerial attacks on Sunday, resulting in three deaths in Lebanon and limited damage in Israel. The Israeli military claimed to have thwarted a larger assault by Hezbollah, with more than 100 planes attacking targets in southern Lebanon. Iran-backed Hezbollah indicated it was not planning further strikes yet, amidst escalating tensions in the region.
Hezbollah fired 320 Katyusha rockets towards Israel, hitting 11 military targets in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s defense against attacks by Iran and its proxies.
Videos on social media showed Israeli interceptor missiles being launched in response to the attacks. Restrictions were imposed on gatherings near the Israeli-Lebanon border and flights in the region were suspended temporarily.
Tensions had been rising since a missile strike in the Golan Heights last month and the assassination of the Hezbollah commander. Israeli officials declared a state of emergency and promised to defend the country, but indicated they did not seek a full-scale war.
Flights to and from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv were suspended, as were some flights to and from Beirut. The situation remains volatile, with fears of further Iranian attacks on Israel keeping countries in the region on edge.
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