This action was a direct response to an Israeli attack on the southern Lebanese town of Shama, which resulted in the deaths of several civilians, the group said.
Israeli media reported that air raid sirens were activated in several northern Israeli settlements, including Ras al-Naqoura, Shlomi, Hanita, Liman, and Metzova, indicating a rocket volley had been launched from Lebanon towards the occupied Western Al-Jalil.
Simultaneously, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanese villages and towns continued. Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over the southern airspace, according to local sources. The Israeli artillery shelling targeted Wadi Hassan and the outskirts of the towns of Zebqin, Ramya, and Aita al-Shaab.
An Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of the village of Chamaa in southern Lebanon killed four Syrian refugees and injured several others, as reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Sayyed Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, announced a new phase of confrontation, describing the situation as an "open battle on all fronts." He emphasized that the escalation "depends on the reactions of the [Israeli] occupation." Nasrallah reiterated the Resistance Axis' position, declaring that those seeking to avoid a larger escalation must compel Israel to cease its aggression on Gaza. "There will be no solution except by stopping the aggression," he asserted.
Following an Israeli aggression on Beirut, Hezbollah refrained from immediate retaliatory operations. Nasrallah explained that attacks were paused until the funeral processions of the martyred Hezbollah leader and Lebanese civilians were concluded. However, he emphasized that the ongoing operations are independent of the response to the assassination of martyr Shokor.
Nasrallah disclosed that Hezbollah had been contacted by various countries and parties attempting to dissuade or threaten them against responding. However, Hezbollah made it clear that their course of action was not negotiable. He declared that the Israeli regime and its supporters "must await our inevitable response," stressing that the decision now lies with the frontline and the opportunities it presents. "We are looking for a solid and well-studied response, not a formal one," he concluded.
The escalation marks a significant intensification of the conflict, with Hezbollah signaling a readiness for a prolonged and open-ended confrontation, contingent on Israel's actions and the regional response. (ILKHA)