William Christou
The Guardian / September 22, 2024
Hezbollah has said it has struck industrial complexes belonging to Israeli defence company Rafael, just near Haifa, in northern Israel, early on Sunday morning.
The group said in a statement said the attack was part of an “initial response” to the pager and walkie-talkie attacks which left more than 3,000 wounded and 42 dead across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is widely believed that Israel was behind the attacks, though it has not publicly claimed responsibility.
Fighting in south Lebanon and north Israel reached its most intense yet overnight, with Israel launching wide-ranging air strikes which it said targeted Hezbollah missile launchers across Lebanon’s south.
Videos of the resulting explosions with visible shockwaves being filmed from afar widely circulated Lebanese social media. At least one was killed and another injured in the strikes, the Lebanese ministry of health said.
In turn, Hezbollah shot a barrage of rockets at north Israel overnight, targeting Ramat David airbase south east of Haifa in the early hours of Sunday morning — the furthest the group has hit since fighting began in October.
The renewed fighting comes days after Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was approaching a “new phase” in the war with Hezbollah. Secretary general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah said in a Thursday speech that the intensified Israeli attacks would not stop the group from continuing its attacks on Israel, until a ceasefire in Gaza was reached.
William Christou is reporting from the Lebanese capital, Beirut
