Haifa: In a significant escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border, more than 90 rockets were launched by Hezbollah militants from Lebanon into northern Israel on Monday, targeting the Haifa Bay area and surrounding towns. The attack marked one of the largest barrages on Haifa in recent years, underscoring the intensifying cross-border hostilities.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that around 80 rockets were initially launched toward Israel, with most intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. However, several rockets breached the defenses, striking populated areas and causing injuries and damage. The wounded included at least four civilians, one of whom was a 70-year-old, according to the Times of Israel. Another 10 rockets followed shortly after, with most intercepted, though some landed in open fields.
The attacks left homes and vehicles damaged in Kiryat Ata, a town close to Haifa, where a teenager sustained minor injuries from shattered glass. This surge in rocket fire has been attributed to Lebanon-based Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, which has been escalating its attacks on Israel following Hamas’s October 7 assault.
In response, the IDF reported that it swiftly retaliated with a targeted drone strike, destroying the Hezbollah rocket launcher responsible for the attack. The exchange is part of a broader intensification of violence in the region, with cross-border tensions rising sharply since late September as Israel began more aggressive air strikes and expanded ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Amid ongoing threats, there are reports of a heavy presence of Hezbollah fighters massed along the border, heightening concerns of further escalation. The IDF remains on high alert, with Iron Dome defenses actively engaged to prevent further casualties among Israeli civilians.
