Israel launched strikes on more than 10 areas across southern Lebanon on Thursday, hours after Hezbollah fired over 50 rockets and drones, wounding one person in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said warplanes targeted weapons depots, military buildings and a launcher used by Hezbollah in an overnight operation.
Hezbollah's attack on Wednesday was in retaliation for an Israeli strike deep into Lebanon that killed one person and injured 19. The exchange of fire came as US President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the urgency of a Gaza ceasefire deal during a phone call that included Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Biden stressed the need to bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure, with upcoming talks in Cairo to remove remaining obstacles. However, both Hamas and Israel have downplayed prospects of an imminent pause in fighting. Netanyahu's office insisted Israel would not drop its demand to maintain troops in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Hamas reiterated its demands for an end to Israel's Gaza operation, a full Israeli pullout, and a hostage-prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials reported at least 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza over 24 hours. The Israeli military said it hit around 30 targets, including tunnels and launch sites, and killed dozens of armed fighters.
The war began on 7 October when Hamas attacked Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Since then, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.
