Hezbollah rockets target Israeli towns amid escalating border clashes

Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah has launched a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona and other towns in the Upper Galilee region.

The rocket fire, coming from multiple systems, has caused fires in several locations, with casualties reported in Beit Hillel and Dishon, Caliber.Az informs, citing foreign media. 

Local authorities have advised residents to take cover following the activation of air raid sirens.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a Hezbollah drone before it entered Israeli territory and conducted strikes on Hezbollah military sites.

The Israeli Air Force also targeted a rocket launcher and several Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. There are no reports of casualties from the Israeli counterattacks.

Notably, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, the Israel-Lebanon border has seen almost daily exchanges of fire. The recent US-backed peace talks in Cairo have failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Hamas rejecting new Israeli conditions and accusing Israel of backtracking. Israel denies changing its demands since early July. Hezbollah, which supports Hamas and is backed by Iran, has been involved in the conflict.

Reports indicate that over 560 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters, have been killed in Lebanon, while Israel has seen 26 civilian and 23 soldier casualties. The UN reports that nearly 200,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.