Hezbollah Begins Firing Rockets at Israel, Triggering Escalation in Ongoing Conflict
Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel just a day after Hamas attacked the country, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, sparking the devastating war in Gaza. Hassan Nasrallah, the then-leader of Hezbollah, vowed to continue firing at Israel until it ceased its assault in Gaza.
Exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah occurred consistently, sparking fears of the conflict spilling over into a wider regional conflict. On September 16, Israel’s war cabinet expanded its stated war goals to include the return of residents displaced in the north of the country, where Hezbollah’s rocket fire had displaced over 60,000 Israelis.
In response, Israel detonated thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members, killing scores and wounding hundreds, and launched attacks on the group’s walkie-talkies the next day. The violence escalated on September 23, when Israel launched an all-out offensive on Shia-majority areas across the country where Hezbollah wields significant influence, killing over 500 people, the deadliest day for Lebanon since the end of its civil war in 1990.
The conflict claimed the life of Hezbollah’s long-time leader, Nasrallah, in a massive attack on his home in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The attack sent the organization’s top brass into hiding, and Israel’s attacks continued to pummel large parts of Lebanon, mainly the Shia-majority south, east, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, killing over 3,700 people.
Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel, with some striking over 70 miles into the country. While most of its missiles and drones were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems, some caused damage, killing 47 Israeli civilians, 31 security forces, and 46 soldiers in Lebanon. On November 26, Israel and Lebanon accepted a deal to end the conflict with Hezbollah, which took effect the following morning.