The northern Israeli port city of Haifa was struck by approximately five rockets launched by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah late Sunday night, resulting in damage and injuring eight individuals, according to Israeli authorities. This marks the first time Haifa has been targeted since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
A spokesman for Haifa’s municipality confirmed the incident, emphasizing its significance given the city’s historical context. The Israeli military is currently investigating the failure of its air defense systems to intercept the incoming rockets. Hezbollah claimed the attack was aimed at a military base located south of Haifa.
In addition to the Haifa strikes, another barrage of rockets hit the town of Tiberias, situated to the east along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, injuring one person. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes in the Lebanese capital, targeting what the military described as Hezbollah installations.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a third division has joined operations in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah fighters have been actively engaging Israeli troops in border villages. The Israeli government has vowed to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of displaced residents returning to their homes near the Lebanese border, following a year marked by ongoing cross-border violence exacerbated by the recent Gaza conflict.
Hezbollah’s rocket fire into northern Israel has intensified since October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas launched a significant attack on southern Israel. Despite suffering substantial setbacks in recent weeks, Hezbollah remains defiant, asserting its capability to counter Israeli actions.
On Sunday, the IDF reported that Hezbollah fired over 135 rockets into northern Israel. Approximately five projectiles crossed from Lebanon around 23:22 local time (20:22 GMT), triggering air raid sirens in the Carmel and Bay areas of Haifa. The IDF confirmed that interceptor missiles were launched, and the incident is currently under review.
Haifa municipality spokesman Eliran Tal reported that two neighborhoods were affected by the attacks. Footage verified by the BBC showed one rocket striking a roundabout near a supermarket and residential buildings, leaving behind a crater and debris. Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic aftermath, with emergency responders tending to the injured.
Among the wounded were a 13-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man, both receiving treatment for injuries caused by shrapnel and blast effects. Hezbollah justified its actions as retaliation for previous Israeli airstrikes, including one that reportedly killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last month.
Despite the tensions, Tal estimated that about 95% of Haifa’s 280,000 residents remained in the city, expressing resilience in the face of the missile threats. The IDF and local leadership have been urged to push hostile forces away from the border as concerns over security mount.
