Hezbollah says targeted command centre in northern Israel to avenge 'recent assassinations, attacks on civilians'

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting the Israeli army’s northern command centre on Tuesday, saying that the attack was in response to “recent assassinations and repeated attacks on civilians” in Lebanon and Syria.

The group reported launching a substantial number of missiles at the Mount Meron base, marking its second assault since the Gaza war initiated by the unprecedented 7 October attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

The first attack occurred on 6 January in response to the killing of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri in a strike in Beirut, widely attributed to Israel.

Earlier today, Hezbollah attacked a group of Israeli soldiers at the Cobra hill.

The Israeli army for its part shelled the outskirts of Shihin, Merwahin, Tayrharfa, Ramia, Jabal Blat, Mays al-Jabal and the Hamames Hill while a drone carried out an airstrike on an agricultural land in al-Wazzani.

Israeli warplanes had struck overnight three houses in the southern border town of Blida, the National News Agency said.

Since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel on 7 October, the Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed a near-daily exchange of fire between Israel’s army and Hezbollah.

As many as 202 people have been killed in south Lebanon, 147 of them belonging to Hezbollah. At least 26 civilians have also been killed, including three journalists and two rescuers in addition to a Lebanese soldier.

More than 83,000 Lebanese have been forced to flee their homes since hostilities began, according to the International Organization for Migration.

On the Israeli side, 15 people have been killed in the northern border area, including nine soldiers and six civilians, according to the Israeli army.

With inputs from agencies