This unprecedented attack marks the first time Hezbollah has targeted Tel Aviv suburbs with a missile.
In a statement, Hezbollah said the strike was a response to Israeli aggressions on Lebanon and in support of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. The group accused Mossad of orchestrating the assassination of key resistance leaders and a series of pager and walkie-talkie explosions that have killed and injured many across Lebanon.
"This operation is in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and their honorable resistance, and in defense of Lebanon and its people," Hezbollah's statement declared, highlighting the symbolic importance of the strike as part of its "strike for strike" and "Tel Aviv for Beirut" equation.
The attack follows recent Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, including one that killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Mohammad Qubaisi, known as "Hajj Abu Musa," and five others in the Ghobeiri area. At least 15 others were injured in the Israeli assault.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his scheduled departure to the United Nations General Assembly in New York following the missile strike. His office announced that Netanyahu would hold consultations on Wednesday to discuss further military actions against Lebanon. His departure has been delayed until Thursday, with a planned return on Saturday night.
Israeli media acknowledged the significance of the Hezbollah missile strike, with commentators noting that Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah "is making history this morning." The missile launch signals a shift in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with analysts warning of further escalations.
Local sources in South Lebanon reported that the Qader 1 missile, a long-range weapon, was being used for the first time in this conflict. The reporter emphasized that this missile strike could shift the dynamics of the conflict, noting signs of displacement among settlers from central Israel following the attack.
Hezbollah's missile strike comes amid ongoing Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, where Israeli military actions have killed at least 500 people, injured thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Hezbollah has continued to target key Israeli military bases as part of its strategic defense of Lebanon.
As the conflict intensifies, both sides brace for what could be a turning point in the long-standing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the potential for wider regional consequences. (ILKHA)