Hezbollah Fires 100 Rockets at Israel
Iraq Pro-Iran Groups Also Join
Israel "Continues Attacks"
The confrontation between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has reached a peak. Both sides have exchanged attacks on the largest scale since the outbreak of the Gaza Strip war, raising the possibility of a full-scale war. Hezbollah warned that it has "entered the comprehensive combat phase of judgment."
According to the Associated Press and other sources on the 22nd (local time), Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets at Israel.
According to Israeli authorities, buildings near Haifa, a northern economic and industrial city, were damaged, and vehicles caught fire. Four people, including a 76-year-old man, were injured by rocket fragments and received treatment.
The rocket attacks were carried out in response to Israel's airstrike on Beirut on the 20th, which killed more than 45 people, including Hezbollah Special Operations Commander Ibrahim Aqil.
The Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance (IRI), also claimed to have launched a drone attack on Israel early that day.
Israel immediately retaliated. The Israeli military stated, "About 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and drones flew over on the night of the 21st and the morning of the 22nd, mainly targeting northern Israel," adding, "Accordingly, we are currently striking targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon." They also said most rockets launched from Lebanon and Iraq were intercepted, and all schools in the northern region were closed and gatherings restricted in preparation for Hezbollah's retaliation.
According to the Israeli military, about 400 Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon, including rocket launchers, were airstruck in the past 24 hours. They also intercepted multiple aerial devices launched from the direction of Iraq.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that three people were killed and four injured due to Israeli airstrikes near the border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement, "In recent days, Hezbollah has suffered a series of strikes it could not have imagined," adding, "If Hezbollah has not yet understood the meaning, I assure you they will." He also said, "We are determined to safely return the northern residents," and "No country can tolerate indiscriminate rocket attacks on its cities."
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned, "The attacks on Hezbollah will continue until the northern residents are safely returned home."
Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said they are well prepared for the next phase of combat expected in the coming days and stated, "We will do everything necessary to eliminate the threat to Israel."
Hezbollah's second-in-command Sheikh Naim Qassem declared at the funeral of Special Operations Commander Ibrahim Aqil, who died in the airstrike, that "a new phase, the comprehensive combat phase of judgment, has begun."
Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified recently.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza Strip war in October last year, Hezbollah has supported the Palestinian armed group Hamas and attacked the northern border areas of Israel, while Israel has conducted localized counterattacks against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. However, tensions escalated after the simultaneous explosion of pagers and radios on the 17th and 18th. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the incident a "declaration of war" by Israel and vowed retaliation.
On the 20th, Israel intensified pressure by conducting large-scale airstrikes in southern Lebanon and targeted Beirut, killing key Hezbollah commanders. On the 21st, Israel carried out concentrated bombings, striking about 290 targets, including Hezbollah rocket launchers.
U.S. President Joe Biden said regarding the rising tensions in the Middle East, "We are working hard to prevent escalation," and "We will do everything we can to prevent a larger war."
White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said on ABC's "This Week," "We are deeply concerned about the escalating tensions over the past week and are monitoring the situation," adding, "We will continue to do everything possible to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah."
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