Hezbollah fires 30 rockets toward Israel as threat of greater conflict in region remains high

Hezbollah fired about 30 rockets from Lebanon toward northern Israel Sunday night, as tensions in the region remained high following the assassination of a top Hamas leader last month.

The series of rockets were launched after an Israeli airstrike in the southern part of Lebanon injured 12 people, according to reports.

The Iran-backed terror organization said it launched the attack in support of the Palestinian people in war-torn Gaza and in retaliation for the Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to CNN.  

Israeli forces said there were no injuries from the more than two-dozen Hezbollah rockets as some fell in open space.

The region remains fraught with anxiety following the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last month in Tehran as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack.

Sources told Axios on Sunday that Israeli intelligence believes Iran has settled on attacking its country in the coming days.

Hamas and Israel were scheduled to partake in hostage negotiation talks on Thursday, but the terror group said Sunday it was backing out of it. 

Hours before Hamas issued its statement, sources familiar with the cease-fire talks told CNN that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was now asking Egyptian and Qatari mediators to help push for an end to the fighting.  

Instructions for residents haven’t changed in Israel as greater war looms.

“The IDF and the security establishment monitor our enemies and the developments in the Middle East, with an emphasis on Iran and Hezbollah, and constantly assess the situation,” IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, per CNN.

“IDF forces are deployed and prepared in high readiness. If it becomes necessary to change the instructions, we will update about it in an orderly message on the official channels.”

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and instructed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to get to the area faster, the Department of Defense said.

Austin spoke with his Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier Sunday and made clear America’s commitment “to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions,” the Pentagon said.

With Post wires