Israel-Hamas war latest: Hezbollah fires scores of rockets at Israel amid fears of escalation
Hezbollah fires around 40 rockets at Israel amid fears of escalation between the country and its northern neighbour Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hamas says the changes they requested to a ceasefire proposal include the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Listen to a podcast on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State broadcaster Kan aired footage of numerous mid-air interceptions of rockets above Israeli towns, including in Safed, some 12 km (7.5 miles) from the border.
The Israeli government has insisted Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Beirut government must bear the “full responsibility” for the spiralling violence across the Israel-Lebanon border.
A spokesperson for the Israeli government also hinted that an escalation could be in the works.
“Lebanon and Hezbollah, under the guidance of Iran, bear full responsibility for the deterioration of the security situation in the north,” government spokesperson David Mencer said.
“Whether through diplomatic efforts – or otherwise – Israel will restore security on our northern border.”
On Wednesday, Hezbollah fired the most rockets it has launched at Israel in a single day since cross-border hostilities broke out eight months ago, as part of its retaliation for an Israeli strike that killed a senior Hezbollah field commander.
The United States is very concerned that hostilities could escalate to an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon.
A senior US official said specific security arrangements were needed for the area and a ceasefire in Gaza was not enough.
“We have had consistent and urgent conversations at different times with Israel and Lebanon over the eight months, from the very beginning of this crisis (..) to keep this from developing into a full-out war that could have implications to beyond elsewhere in the region,” the official said.
Who are Hezbollah?
Iran-backed, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which means “Party of God” in Arabic, openly calls for the destruction of the “Zionist regime in Palestine” and is deemed a terror organisation by most Western powers.
The militia has long aligned itself with Hamas and Islamic Jihad and has frequently clashed with IDF forces on the Israel-Lebanon border since the most recent conflict broke out on 7 October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously warned that Beirut would be turned “into Gaza” if Hezbollah started an all-out war.
Scores of rockets launched into Israel over northern border
Some 40 rockets were launched toward the Galilee and Golan Heights area of northern Israel in the past hour, according to the Israel Defence Force.
The IDF says several of these launches were successfully intercepted by Israel’s air defence.
A number of hits were also reported which have ignited fires.
Israel’s national ambulance service said it was providing medical treatment to two people wounded by shrapnel.
State broadcaster Kan aired footage of numerous mid-air interceptions of rockets above Israeli towns, including in Safed, some 12 km (7.5 miles) from the border.
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the strikes. The Iran-backed, Lebanon-based group are deemed as a terror organisation by most Western powers.
The militia has long aligned itself with Hamas and Islamic Jihad and has frequently clashed with IDF forces on the Israel-Lebanon border since the most recent conflict broke out on 7 October.
It would be the latest episode in an exchange of rocket fire between the two countries following an Israeli strike which killed a senior Hezbollah field commander on Tuesday.
More than half of Gaza’s farmland is damaged, says UN
More than half of Gaza’s agricultural land has been degraded by conflict, satellite images analysed by the United Nations show.
The data shows a rise in the destruction of orchards, field crops and vegetables in the Palestinian enclave.
Using satellite imagery taken between May 2017 and 2024, United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) and the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that 57% of Gaza’s permanent crop fields and arable lands essential for food security had shown a significant decline in density and health.
“In May 2024, crop health and density across the Gaza Strip showed a marked decline compared to the average of the previous seven seasons,” UNOSAT said on Thursday.
“This deterioration is attributed to conflict-related activities, including razing, heavy vehicle movement, bombing, and shelling.”
It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Wednesday that a significant proportion of Gaza’s population was now facing “catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.”
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was “no evidence” that those who needed food the most in Gaza were receiving sufficient quantities. mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv mdv
Tedros said there were more than 8,000 children under five years old who have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition, including 1,600 children with severe acute malnutrition.
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