Hezbollah launches rockets from Lebanon at Israel; Iron Dome activated
Hezbollah has launched approximately 50 rockets from Lebanon toward upper Galilee in Israel. Videos showed Israel's Iron Dome defense system being activated early Sunday, after Hezbollah launched the attack. Hezbollah had hinted at a concerted attack on Israel after the latter assassinated its top Hezbollah commander, Fouad Shukur, in Beirut last week. However, Hezbollah clarified that Sunday's rocket attack was not a response to their commander's killing but retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed civilians in two southern Lebanese villages.
Hezbollah's statement
In a statement, Hezbollah said, "In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, and in response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on the steadfast southern villages...,especially the attacks that targeted the villages of Kafr Kila and Deir Siryan and injured civilians, the Islamic Resistance included the new settlement of Beit Hillel in its fire schedule and bombarded it for the first time with dozens of Katyusha rockets."
Israel's Iron Dome activated
Tension in Middle East after high-profile assassinations
The attack comes after the Pentagon announced on Friday that it will send more fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East. Tensions in the region have risen following the assassination of Hamas's top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran's capital, Tehran. While Israel has yet to claim responsibility for Haniyeh's death, it has accepted responsibility for Shukur's assassination, which occurred less than 24 hours before Haniyeh was assassinated.
US increases military presence amid Middle East unrest
Amid the escalating tensions, US President Joe Biden expressed hope that Iran would stand down, stating: "I hope so. I don't know." The US and UK have also advised their nationals to leave Lebanon. Similar advisories have been issued by several other countries, including Jordan, Canada, and India. Meanwhile, Iran has stated that it expects Hezbollah to strike deeper inside Israel and not limit itself to military targets.
What is Iron Dome
The Iron Dome is an anti-missile defense system that can intercept short-range rockets mid-air. It has a range of approximately 70 kilometers or less and can also be moved onto ships or across land. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the system went live in March 2011. Notably, the air defense system was primarily developed to respond to threats from Gaza and Southern Lebanon.
