Israel and Hezbollah both said on early Monday local time that they had launched strikes at each other, blowing open a new front in the ongoing regional war.
In a statement published by Lebanese media, Hezbollah said that it had launched “a barrage of advanced missiles and a swarm of drones” against a missile defense site in Haifa, which is in northern Israel.
The group said the attacks were carried out “in revenge for the pure blood of the Supreme Leader of Muslims,” referring to the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Israel Defense Forces also said in a statement that it had begun striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon “in response to projectile fire toward northern Israel.”
“Hezbollah is operating on behalf of the Iranian regime, opening fire against the Israeli civilians, and bringing ruin to Lebanon,” it said.
The statement further said that Israeli troops were prepared for “an all-fronts scenario.”
The Israeli air force said that the Hezbollah launches “fell in open areas” within Israeli territory, and that Israeli forces had begun striking the Beirut area.
Social media videos of the Lebanese capital have so far shown damaged cars and buildings, particularly in the southern suburb of Dahieh. The full extent of the strikes there is not immediately clear.
Israeli forces have told about 50 villages in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate, saying that it is likely to begin conducting strikes against Hezbollah targets there.
Hezbollah has long been backed by Iran, which the US and Israel began attacking on Saturday with an onslaught of strikes from ground, air, and sea forces amassed in the region.
Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv said that Khamenei, a central figure for decades among militant groups in the region, had been killed within the first 24 hours.
Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones at over half a dozen of its neighbors, such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, saying it is attacking military sites.
Hezbollah’s entry into the fight means that Tehran’s response is now joined by one of its regional allies. However, it remains to be seen how deeply involved the politically powerful Lebanese group will become.
Fears remain that the Houthis, a rebel group in Yemen that is closely tied to Iran’s government, may soon renew attacks in the Red Sea.
The Yemeni militia previously launched drones and missiles at commercial vessels attempting to pass through the key shipping lane, saying they were protesting Israel’s extensive bombardment campaign and occupation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the global oil market between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, several tankers reported coming under attack on Sunday as the war raged.
Although Iran maintains significant control over the strait, it’s not yet clear who is orchestrating or launching these attacks.
