Hezbollah Strikes Israel on Gaza War Anniversary, Heightening Middle East Tensions

The escalating conflict could draw the U.S. and Iran into a broader regional war, threatening stability across the Middle East.

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On the first anniversary of the 2023 Gaza war, Hezbollah launched rocket strikes on Israel, escalating fears of wider instability in the Middle East. The Iran-backed group, an ally of Hamas, targeted Israel’s third-largest city, Haifa, and areas as far as Tiberias, injuring at least 10 people and damaging property.

In response, Israel’s military launched airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, hitting intelligence headquarters in Beirut and weapon storage sites across southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region. Israel accused Hezbollah of embedding its military assets within civilian areas, endangering lives in Beirut.

The strikes come as Israel commemorated the anniversary of the 2023 Gaza war, sparked by Hamas-led attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages. The Israeli retaliation devastated Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Hezbollah’s attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, as tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” deepen. The conflict’s focus has now shifted to northern Lebanon, with Israeli forces targeting Hezbollah strongholds. Over 1,000 people have died in recent violence, and mass displacement has affected over 1 million residents in southern Lebanon.

With Hezbollah and Hamas both receiving support from Iran, there are growing fears that the escalating conflict could draw the U.S. and Iran into a broader regional war, threatening stability across the Middle East.