Hezbollah and Israel Engage in Intense Combat in ‘New Phase’ of Conflict, Reports Reuters

By Timour Azhari and Miro Maman

BEIRUT/HAIFA, Israel – Heavy exchanges of fire continued into Sunday between Hezbollah and Israel, as the Lebanese militant group targeted deep into northern Israeli territory amid one of the most intense periods of conflict in nearly a year.

At the funeral of a Hezbollah commander killed the previous week in Beirut, the group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, declared, "We have entered a new phase, the title of which is the open-ended battle of reckoning."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that military operations would persist until it is deemed safe for residents evacuated from the area to return, suggesting that a prolonged conflict could be on the horizon. Hezbollah has committed to continuing its fight until a ceasefire is established in the ongoing Gaza war.

In a televised statement, Israel’s Chief of General Staff, Herzi Halevi, announced that the military is prepared for the next phases of the conflict but refrained from detailing specific plans. "We will do whatever it takes to remove threats against Israel," he stated.

The recent escalation has unfolded since Hezbollah opened a second front against Israel, claiming it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians affected by the Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Following an incident on Tuesday and Wednesday where thousands of communication devices used by Hezbollah exploded, Israel was widely blamed, although it did not confirm responsibility. In response, Israel launched its heaviest bombardment of Lebanon to date.

An Israeli airstrike on Friday targeted high-ranking Hezbollah officials in Beirut’s southern suburb, resulting in the deaths of 45 people, as reported by the Lebanese health ministry. Among the deceased were Hezbollah leaders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi.

The Israeli military claimed to have struck around 290 targets in a massive bombardment on Saturday, targeting numerous Hezbollah rocket launcher sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the military had dealt unforeseen blows to Hezbollah, promising that the group would eventually grasp the seriousness of the situation.

SIRENS SOUND, SCHOOLS CLOSED

During Aqil’s funeral on Sunday, Qassem remarked that Israel’s attempts to incapacitate Hezbollah would ultimately fail. He claimed that the increased intensity of the conflict would lead to the further displacement of Israeli citizens.

In response to the threat, Israel has closed schools, limited gatherings in the north, and instructed hospitals to move patients and staff to safe areas designed to withstand rocket fire. Air raid sirens echoed throughout Israel, with reports of around 150 rockets and drones fired into the country overnight, most of which were intercepted.

Several structures were hit, including a home near Haifa, causing damage but no reported fatalities. Residents were advised to remain close to bomb shelters and safe rooms.

Hezbollah claimed it launched drone strikes against Israeli positions and targeted military-industrial facilities as retaliation for the recent device attacks. Additionally, an official from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq indicated that missile and explosive drone strikes would continue in support of Hezbollah amid the ongoing conflict.

The U.N. special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, emphasized the imminent danger facing the region, stating that any military solution would not ensure safety for either side.

Lebanon’s top Christian cleric, Bechara Boutros al-Rai, expressed sorrow over the civilian casualties and the losses within Hezbollah from recent attacks, urging the United Nations Security Council to act to end the war.

Since Hezbollah escalated its assaults on Israel in October, tens of thousands from both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have been displaced.

The recent Gaza conflict was sparked on October 7 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. Israel’s subsequent air operations in Gaza have reportedly led to over 41,300 Palestinian deaths and widespread devastation in the region.