The level of armed conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is escalating.
Smoke rises after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstruck targets of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on January 8 (local time). [Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]
Hezbollah, a Shia militant group supported by Iran, announced on the 4th (local time) that it launched 200 rockets and explosive-laden drones targeting multiple military bases in northern Israel.
Hezbollah claimed that the attack was in response to the killing of a senior Israeli military commander, Muhammad Nima Nasser, the previous day.
The extent of Israeli casualties from Hezbollah's attack has not yet been reported.
Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom, stated that it treated two patients who were injured from falls while taking shelter in bomb shelters during Hezbollah's attack.
The Israeli military also confirmed Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks but did not disclose the exact scale or damage.
They explained that many of the weapons launched by Hezbollah were intercepted by air defense systems and fighter jets, while some fell in open areas causing fires.
In response to Hezbollah's attack, the Israeli military conducted large-scale retaliatory airstrikes in southern Lebanon using fighter jets, destroying multiple rocket launchers.
Earlier, Hezbollah had launched 100 rockets into northern Israel the previous day, citing retaliation for Nasser's killing.
Since the Gaza war broke out on October 7 last year with Hamas's preemptive strike, Hezbollah has supported Hamas and continued armed demonstrations in northern Israel.
Israel has countered by conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah facilities across Lebanon using fighter jets.
Meanwhile, after the death of Hezbollah's top commander Taleb Abdulla in an Israeli targeted airstrike on the 12th of last month, Hezbollah escalated its armed response by firing over 170 rockets into Israel.
Since then, both sides have threatened each other, mentioning the possibility of full-scale war.
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