Israel said on Wednesday that it has begun a “series of strikes” in Lebanon as a retaliatory response. An Israeli citizen was killed by a rocket that was fired from Lebanon, which is what provoked the Jewish nation.

These new airstrikes will surely elevate fears of a major military confrontation between the two neighbors following months of cross-border violence. The Israeli military did not immediately offer further details of the airstrikes, which came hours after at least one Israeli citizen was killed and a further seven were injured in a rocket attack launched from Lebanon, according to a report by RT. 

Israel Warns Lebanon Against Further Attacks

Footage from within Lebanon circulating on social media appears to show areas in the south of the country damaged by the strikes, including in Nabatieh Governorate – deeper into Lebanese territory than many previous attacks.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that has had near-daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces since the onset of the war in Gaza four months ago, did not immediately claim responsibility for the rocket attacks into Israel earlier on Wednesday. –RT

On Tuesday, Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah said rockets fired from Lebanese territory would end “when the attack on Gaza stops and there is a ceasefire” between its Palestinian allies and Israel. “If they [Israel] broaden the confrontation, we will do the same,” Nasrallah declared in a televised statement.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, is generally considered to be a more robust fighting force than Hamas, while also being one of the most influential political factions in Lebanon. According to the group’s leadership, Hezbollah has about 100,000 fighters within its ranks – a figure that exceeds Lebanon’s official state military. –RT

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