The northern Israeli city of Haifa was struck by five rockets launched by Hezbollah late Sunday, leading to injuries and considerable damage. The Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah, claimed responsibility, asserting it had targeted a military base south of Haifa. The attack resulted in eight people being injured, with one rocket landing near a supermarket and apartment blocks in eastern Haifa. Additionally, another barrage of rockets hit the town of Tiberias, injuring one more person.

In response, the Israeli military launched airstrikes on Beirut, specifically targeting sites connected to Hezbollah. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are also investigating why their air defense systems failed to intercept the rockets fired into Haifa.

This escalation is part of the ongoing conflict that started in October 2023 when Hezbollah began launching rocket attacks on northern Israel in support of Palestinians following Hamas’ deadly strike on southern Israel. Since then, the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified, with frequent cross-border exchanges.

The Israeli government has pledged to ensure that tens of thousands of displaced residents near the Lebanese border can return home once it is safe, as its military continues its operations in southern Lebanon. The Israeli forces recently deployed a third division to the region, while Hezbollah remains defiant, claiming confidence in its ability to resist Israeli aggression despite suffering significant losses in recent weeks.