Jerusalem: Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at Israel on Saturday, escalating tensions in the Middle East as Iran and its allies prepare their response to the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this week. Amid fears of a regional war, US President Joe Biden expressed hope that Iran would "stand down" despite its threats to attack Israel.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran like Hamas, claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks on Moshav Beit Hillel in Israel, which injured civilians according to The Times of Israel. The group stated that the attack was retaliation for Israeli strikes on Kfar Kela and Deir Siriane in Lebanon, as well as an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah military commander.
US and Israeli officials indicated that they anticipated an Iranian attack on Israel as early as Monday, Axios reported. Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted most of the rockets fired by Hezbollah, but several impacts were reported near Beit Hillel, leading to fires in the area according to local media.
The US, Israel's ally, announced an increase in its military presence in the Middle East to protect its personnel and defend Israel. This includes the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, additional missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers, and a new fighter squadron.
When asked about Iran's threats to attack Israel, President Biden, at his beach home in Delaware, replied, "I hope so. I don't know."
The US Embassy in Beirut advised Americans to leave Lebanon immediately amid fears of a new war. This advisory followed similar warnings from the UK, Jordan, Canada, and India for their citizens to leave Lebanon. Iran, blaming Israel for Haniyeh's killing, expected Hezbollah to strike deeper inside Israel, beyond military targets.
Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups from Yemen, Iraq, and Syria are already involved in the nearly 10-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In another development, an Israeli drone strike in Bazourieh, southern Lebanon, killed Ali Abd Ali, a prominent Hezbollah operative. According to the Israeli military, Ali was a "central terrorist" in Hezbollah's Southern Front. Hezbollah confirmed Ali's death and warned of retaliation against Israel. Lebanese media reported two injuries in the strike.
Violence also spread to the West Bank as Israel and Hezbollah traded fire. Israeli strikes on a school compound in Gaza City, controlled by Hamas, killed 17 people.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the situation in the Middle East with his French and British counterparts on Saturday. All parties agreed on the need for restraint, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
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