World

Hezbollah claims it has fired 200 rockets into Israel in one of largest barrages yet

Militant group Hezbollah has said it has fired 200 rockets into Israel in one of its largest barrages yet.

The Iran-backed organisation claimed it launched the attack on ten Israeli military sites using a “squadron of drones”.

Tensions have been boiling around the border between Israel and Lebanon in recent weeks.

The Israeli military said that “numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets” had entered its territory, many of which it said were intercepted.

Israel’s ambulance service said there were no casualties reported.

The barrage of rockets is believed to be in retaliation for a strike that killed one of Hezbollah’s senior commanders.

Israel’s military acknowledged on Wednesday that it had killed Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah’s three regional divisions in southern Lebanon, a day earlier.

More from World

Mr Nasser, killed by an airstrike near the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, was one of the most senior Hezbollah commanders to die in the conflict.

Hours after Israel’s acknowledgement, Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha rockets and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The US and France are continuing to scramble to prevent the skirmishes from spiraling into an all-out war, which they fear could spillover across the Arab world.

The tensions between Israel and Lebanon erupted shortly after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Hezbollah says it is striking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, another Iran-allied group.

The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed.

In Lebanon, more than 450 people – mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians – have been killed.

Today’s strike comes as Israel’s cabinet is set to reconvene to discuss Hamas’ latest response to a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire in Gaza.

The US has rallied world support behind the plan that would see the release of all of the hostages still held by the militant group in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Articles You May Like

Sister of murder victim brings his ashes into court as teen gang detained for total of 79 years
Radio DJ rescued from River Thames after saving dog
Elon Musk endorses far-right Alternative for Germany party in upcoming election
At least two dead and almost 70 injured after car ploughs into crowd in German city
Irish ‘cherish’ historic win to kick off new CFP era