Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group targeted two military positions in northern Israel with an armed drone in response to the killing of an Islamist commander. Tensions and cross-border fire have escalated, raising fears of a wider Middle East war. Israel and the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah had been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire since the Gaza war erupted on October 7.
Hezbollah announced the cross-border attacks after publishing a video showing locations in Israel along with their coordinates. Another armed group, Jamaa Islamiya, announced the death of one of its commanders in a Zionist raid near Syria. Israel confirmed carrying out the strike, saying the commander was supplying weapons to armed groups.
Hezbollah launched a strike on a military leadership position in northern Israel and targeted the headquarters of the 91st Division in Ayelet Hashahar. The Israeli military confirmed a soldier was severely wounded in the drone strike. Plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved by Israeli military, prompting threats of all-out war from Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has been circulating videos showing Israeli positions and coordinates, as well as aerial footage over northern Israel. The cross-border violence has resulted in at least 480 deaths in Lebanon, mostly fighters, and 93 civilians, while Israel has reported at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians killed in the north.
