Hezbollah rockets target Israel’s Meron after Khirbet Selm strike

Hezbollah announced on Sunday its retaliation against Israel by launching numerous rockets towards northern Israel, following Israeli airstrikes that killed five in southern Lebanon the previous day, including three Hezbollah members.

This exchange of fire between Hezbollah, a supporter of Hamas, and Israel has been ongoing almost daily since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7.

The group stated it fired “dozens of katyusha-type rockets” at the Israeli village of Meron, located eight kilometers from the Lebanon-Israel border, early in the morning. Meron hosts a significant air control base, which has been a frequent target of the Iran-supported Hezbollah since the year’s start.

The rocket fire was in retaliation to Israeli bombings targeting southern Lebanese villages and civilian homes, notably an attack on the residence of a Hezbollah fighter in Khirbet Selm the previous day, which also resulted in the deaths of a woman and another individual.

The Israeli military confirmed that around 35 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with several being intercepted. The military also reported that overnight airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including a military site in Khirbet Selm where Hezbollah militants were detected.

Since the conflict’s escalation on October 8, over 312 individuals have been killed in Lebanon, with the majority being Hezbollah militants and 53 civilians, based on an AFP count.

On the Israeli side, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 10 soldiers and seven civilians.

The ongoing hostilities have displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. While most strikes have been concentrated along the border areas, there have been recent attacks on Hezbollah positions in northern Lebanon, escalating concerns about a wider conflict.

Hezbollah has made it clear that it will not cease its attacks on Israel until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza.

However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that any ceasefire in Gaza would not alter Israel’s objective of distancing Hezbollah from the border, whether through military action or diplomatic efforts.