Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Israeli Towns in Retaliatory Attack, Escalating Tensions with Israel

Hezbollah Rocket Attack Targets Israeli Towns

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Retaliation for Israeli Airstrikes

Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group carried out a rocket attack targeting towns in northern Israel with heavy warheads, marking the first time it used such weapons against civilian targets. This act of retaliation came in response to Israeli airstrikes the previous night, which resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including several paramedics, according to Hezbollah's claim. Local media reported no injuries among Israelis in the rocket attack, while the Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

Escalation of Conflict

The ongoing clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border, coupled with the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza since October 7, have raised concerns about the potential escalation of hostilities into a full-scale war. On Wednesday, airstrikes and rocket fire led to the deadliest day of the current conflict, claiming the lives of 16 Lebanese and one Israeli.

Israeli Defense Measures

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, stated that Israel had eliminated 30 Hezbollah militants in the past week and destroyed numerous Hezbollah military sites. These actions were part of an effort to push the Iran-backed group away from the border.

International Concern and Diplomatic Efforts

The recent surge in violence has prompted alarm in Washington and at the United Nations. White House national security spokesman John Kirby emphasized that restoring calm along the Israel-Lebanon border is a top priority for President Biden's administration. The U.S. is actively engaged in monitoring the developments and working to halt the fighting through diplomatic efforts.

Hezbollah's Rocket Barrage

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that the group fired a barrage of Katyusha and Burkan rockets toward the Israeli village of Goren and Shlomi. Notably, Hezbollah had not previously targeted civilian areas with Burkan rockets, marking a significant escalation in its retaliatory tactics. The attack was attributed to the recent Israeli airstrikes, according to Hezbollah's statement.

Lebanese and Israeli Casualties

Lebanon's state media confirmed that among those killed on Wednesday were 10 paramedics. The Israeli military stated that its targets included Hezbollah and an allied Sunni Muslim group. The fighting has resulted in the deaths of 9 civilians and 11 soldiers in Israel, while in Lebanon, over 240 Hezbollah fighters and approximately 50 civilians have lost their lives.

U.S. and UN Calls for De-Escalation

General CQ Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has engaged with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts to address the situation. Emphasizing the need to ease tensions, he underscored Israel's efforts to manage the Gaza front without added complications from the northern front. The U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, UNIFIL, has also called for an immediate cessation of the escalation, urging all sides to seek a sustainable political and diplomatic solution.

Peacekeeping Efforts and Humanitarian Impact

The recent violence has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of individuals on both sides, necessitating a humanitarian response to support affected civilians. Lebanon and Israel are urged to prioritize efforts to allow displaced civilians to safely return to their homes as the international community seeks to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further loss of life.

(Information contributed by Seung Min Kim in Washington and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel.)