Hezbollah aimed to exclusively target military installations within Israel.
In their early-morning assault on Israel last Sunday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted, they consciously avoided striking civilian areas. His rationale was straightforward: "From the get-go, our objective wasn't to target civilians, but rather, military sites," he shared during a televised address. Their primary focus was the Glilot military base situated near Tel Aviv.
Hezbollah strategically delayed the attack, giving peace talks aimed at putting an end to the Gaza conflict a chance, and to retaliate against Israel's forces. The upcoming attacks by Iran and the Houthi militia in Yemen are still anticipated as the first phase concludes.
Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah had launched 340 rockets towards Israel. Israel responded with counterstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon, justifying their actions as a defensive measure. Tragically, three lives were lost in Lebanon. Meanwhile, in Israel, a soldier was reportedly killed by debris from an Israeli missile interception, while serving on a naval vessel.
Hezbollah is widely recognized as Iran's most significant non-state ally in the Middle East and boasts the title of the most armament-equipped non-state group in the region. Since the onset of the Gaza war ten months prior, the militia has been involved in almost daily skirmishes with Israel, resulting in the loss of numerous lives on both sides of the border.
The European Union has expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, calling for de-escalation and adherence to international law. The European Union has also been providing humanitarian aid to Lebanon, affected by the conflict.
