Israeli fighter jets flew over the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday, causing a series of sonic booms intended to intimidate the city’s residents. This show of force followed drone attacks on northern Israel by Hezbollah, an armed group.
The low-flying aircraft rattled windows across Beirut, highlighting the Israeli military’s capability to strike Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed retaliation for what he described as a series of Israeli assassinations. “The Israelis chose escalation by carrying out assassinations,” Nasrallah stated, promising a “strong and effective” response, potentially in coordination with other members of the Iran-backed “axis of resistance.”
Nasrallah emphasized that the response would be deliberate and measured, adding that “Israel’s waiting for our response is part of the punishment.” The tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have reached their highest levels since October, leading to significant displacement on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.
The likely Israeli assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week, followed by the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, has heightened fears of retaliatory attacks that could escalate into a full-scale war.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for sending a swarm of drones to attack Israeli military positions in northern Israel. Israeli authorities reported that 12 people south of Nahariya were hospitalized after an Israeli missile interceptor malfunctioned and struck the ground. Seven others were injured in the drone attack, including six Israeli soldiers, according to the Nahariya Medical Center.
“The failures within Israel’s defense systems, which are supposed to be ironclad, are significant,” reported Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut. “Initially, the army said it intercepted one of the drones, but the others managed to make an impact.”
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that an Israeli raid on the southern town of Mayfadun resulted in five fatalities, with another person killed in an attack near Adaysseh. The escalating violence continues to raise concerns about a potential broader conflict in the region.
