Israel 'surprised' by scale of Hezbollah retaliation after escalation in Lebanon: Reports
Israel has been caught off guard by the scale and intensity of Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks, launched in response to the regime’s expanded ground offensive and deadly airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
Hebrew Channel 13 reported on Sunday that the Israeli military was surprised by both the intensity of the attacks and Hezbollah’s decision to alter its response strategy after Israeli forces expanded ground offensives north of the Litani River.
According to the report, the regime’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security consultations as northern communities faced continuous alerts, interceptions, and rocket impacts.
Over the weekend, Hezbollah launched multiple barrages of rockets toward Haifa, Nahariya, Acre, Safed and Kiryat Shmona, while also carrying out drone attacks against Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military told AFP that more than 25 projectiles were fired from Lebanon on Saturday alone.
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across the northern occupied territories, including in Safed and Karmiel, for the first time since the ceasefire took effect in March.
Israeli media described the weekend as one of the most intense periods of cross-border fire in recent months, reporting that residents in northern settlements spent hours moving between shelters amid continuous sirens, interceptions and explosions.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, Israeli authorities ordered the closure of schools and tightened restrictions on public gatherings and work activities across parts of the Upper Galilee.
The escalation followed a significant expansion of Israeli airstrikes and ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
Israeli warplanes carried out extensive strikes across Nabatieh, Deir al-Zahrani, Dibbin and other areas, while troops advanced toward the historic Beaufort Castle in Nabatieh province.
Lebanese media reported that at least eight people were killed and 20 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Sunday, including strikes on residential homes.
According to Lebanese authorities, since early March, Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people, injured over 10,129 others and displaced more than 1.6 million people.
Despite repeated ceasefire extensions, Israeli forces have continued airstrikes and military operations across parts of Lebanon.
Tel Aviv claims the offensive is intended to push Hezbollah forces farther away from the border and reduce the “threat” posed by continued cross-border attacks targeting northern and central areas of Israeli territory.
Hezbollah, however, says its attacks are a response to ongoing Israeli aggression and military incursions, and a legitimate act of resistance to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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