HEZBULLAH fired about 30 rockets from Lebanon toward northern Israel on Sunday night, amid heightened tensions in the region following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last month.
A series of rockets were launched after an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon wounded 12 people, the New York Post reported.
The Iran-backed organization said it carried out the strikes in support of the Palestinian people in the war-torn Gaza Strip and in retaliation for Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces said there were no injuries from more than two dozen Hezbollah rockets because some fell in open areas.
The region remains gripped by anxiety following the killing of Hamas’ top leader Ismail Haniyeh last month in Tehran as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza following its October 7 offensive.
Sources told Axios on Sunday (8/11) that Israeli intelligence believes Iran has decided to attack its country in the coming days.
Read also: Despite Lebanon’s Suffering, Hezbollah is Not Afraid to Fight Israel
Hamas and Israel were scheduled to take part in hostage talks on Thursday. But Hamas said Sunday it was pulling out of the talks.
Hours before Hamas issued its statement, a source familiar with the ceasefire talks told CNN that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was now asking Egyptian and Qatari mediators to help push for an end to the fighting.
The instructions for residents in Israel have not changed as a larger war is possible. “The IDF and security agencies are monitoring our enemies and developments in the Middle East with an emphasis on Iran and Hezbollah and are constantly assessing the situation,” IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, via CNN.
Also read: US warns Israel of consequences if it attacks Hezbollah
“IDF forces are deployed and prepared at high readiness. If there is a need to change the instructions, we will update them through orderly messages on official channels,” he said.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and instructed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to reach the region more quickly.
The Defense Department said Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday and made clear America’s commitment to taking every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of America’s military posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of rising regional tensions. (Z-2)
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