Israel retaliated with airstrikes in the Galilee and the Golan Heights following alerts as over 100 rockets targeted northern Israel on Tuesday morning, as per IDF reports. The barrage, comprising 30 rockets in the first round and 70 in the second, prompted crashes in open areas near Ein Kuniya, Snir, Sha’ar Yashuv, and Kfar Szold.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility, citing Israeli bombardment of the Bekaa region on Monday night as justification. In response, the IDF targeted rocket launch sites in Lebanon.
“The strikes were in retaliation to Hezbollah aircraft attacks launched towards the Golan Heights over recent days,” a statement by the IDF revealed.
Tragically, at least one civilian died, and several others were injured in Israeli strikes on Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, sources reported. Strikes hit the southern entrance of Baalbek, two kilometers from ancient Roman ruins, and three others struck near the city of Taraya, 20 kilometers west of Baalbek.
The IDF continued its response, with fighter jets striking three launch sites targeting the Golan Heights. Additionally, IDF jets targeted two Hezbollah compounds in Lebanon’s Bekaa area, reportedly linked to Hezbollah’s airforce.
Major General Yair Golan criticized the government’s response, noting that no Israeli government had previously ceded sovereign territories as the current government was doing. He highlighted the humanitarian crisis caused by displacement and daily rocket attacks, stressing that the abandonment of territory would be a central issue in future inquiries.
These escalations occur amidst ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza, exacerbating tensions in the region. On Sunday afternoon, Hezbollah launched a barrage of at least 30 rockets toward northern Israel. This followed an earlier incident on Sunday morning when 35 launches from Lebanon were detected, with several intercepted by defense systems.