Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel
This is a reaction to the Israeli attacks on the villages of Kfar Kela and Deir Siriane in Lebanon, where civilians were injured, according to a statement from Hezbollah. The militia reported that two of its fighters were killed in the incident.
Almost ten months into the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there have been almost daily clashes at the border between Israel and Lebanon. The attacks had recently intensified. Last week, twelve children and teenagers were killed in a village in the Golan Heights by rocket fire from Lebanon.
Internationally, there is growing fear of an escalation in the Middle East, after Iran and its allies threatened Israel with a "hard response" to the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in an attack in Tehran on Wednesday. Just hours earlier, Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Israel claimed responsibility for Shukr's killing but did not comment on Haniyeh.
On Saturday, Iran stated that Hezbollah would attack Israel "in depth" and not limit itself to military targets following Shukr's death. Iran's UN representative told the state news agency IRNA that Israel had crossed a red line with Shukr's killing.
In response to the rising tensions, the US announced it would bolster its defense capabilities in the Middle East. The Pentagon said it would deploy additional warships and fighter jets to protect US forces and defend Israel. When asked if Iran would restrain itself, US President Joe Biden said, "I hope so, I don't know."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné, agreed in a joint call to call for restraint to prevent a "regional conflagration," according to the French foreign ministry. Both countries would continue their efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
Turkish Airlines canceled its flights to Tehran for the second night in a row. The US and UK advised their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. Canada advised its citizens not to travel to Israel due to the "unpredictable security situation."
Thousands of people took to the streets in several countries, including Turkey, Morocco, and Jordan, to protest Haniyeh's killing and express solidarity with the Palestinians.
In Israel, protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government continued, accusing it of prolonging the war in Gaza to stay in power. They demanded a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages.
The war began with the unprecedented large-scale attack by the Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas on Israel on October 7. According to Israeli figures, 1197 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since then, Israel has launched massive military operations in Gaza. According to figures from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which cannot be independently verified, at least 39,550 people have been killed in Israeli attacks.
At least 17 people were killed in an attack on a school grounds in the city of Gaza on Saturday, according to the Civil Defense. The Israeli military confirmed the attack, stating that a Hamas command center was targeted during the operation.
The protests in Israel continue, with citizens calling for a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, as they believe Prime Minister Netanyahu is prolonging the war in Gaza to maintain his power. Despite the rising tensions, twelve children and teenagers were tragically killed in a village in the Golan Heights last week due to rocket fire from Lebanon.
