On the first anniversary of the Gaza conflict that has reverberated across the Middle East, rockets fired by Hezbollah struck Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city. Local police reported that ten individuals suffered injuries in the northern region, while Israeli media provided details of the attack.
Hezbollah, allied with Hamas—Palestinian militants engaged in ongoing skirmishes with Israel—claimed they targeted a military installation situated south of Haifa, launching a volley of “Fadi 1” missiles. Reports indicated that two missiles landed in Haifa, located along Israel’s Mediterranean coastline, while five further projectiles struck Tiberias, approximately 65 kilometers distant. Damage occurred to several buildings, resulting in minor injuries that necessitated medical attention for some victims at nearby hospitals.
In the hours that followed, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s arms depots in greater Beirut, leading to reports of secondary explosions, suggesting the presence of munitions. The military also engaged Hezbollah sites across southern Lebanon and in the Bekaa Valley, striking weapon caches, infrastructural assets, command facilities, and missile launchers.
As demonstrations unfolded in Haifa, where activists held placards advocating for a ceasefire, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated. Israel accused Hezbollah of strategically placing command centers and weapon stores within civilian areas of Beirut, thus endangering local residents—a claim vehemently denied by the Lebanese group.
Israelis commemorated the tumultuous first anniversary of the Hamas-led attack that catalyzed a conflict, sparking worldwide protests and raising fears of a broader regional war. Ceremonies across Jerusalem and southern Israel commenced precisely at 6:29 AM, marking the time of the prior year’s offensive on October 7. This sudden assault resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken into Gaza, according to Israeli statistics.
The aftermath revealed a devastating Israeli campaign in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 42,000 people, as per Palestinian health officials. In anticipation of possible retaliatory attacks by Palestinians, security forces throughout Israel maintained a heightened state of alert, reflecting the somber remembrance of this tragic date.
This unprovoked strike by Hamas represented a significant failure in security for Israel, a nation that maintains a reputation for its advanced military capabilities. The ramifications of both the initial attack on Israeli communities surrounding Gaza and the resulting Israeli military response have sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East, drawing international condemnation for the extensive loss of life and destruction.
Israel contends that its operations have effectively weakened both Hamas and Hezbollah through targeted assassinations of key leaders, prominently featuring in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” This coalition also enlists the Houthis of Yemen and various armed factions across Iraq as opposition to Israeli and American interests in the region.
Following the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli airstrikes, Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani traveled to Lebanon. However, there has been no confirmation of his whereabouts since the airstrikes targeted Beirut last week. Some Iranian officials speculated that he was observing developments near the Dahiyeh area but wasn’t in a meeting with senior Hezbollah figures.
The Quds Force functions as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations division, overseeing alliances with various regional militias, including Hezbollah.
Further complicating the situation, Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan perished alongside Nasrallah in a bunker bombed on September 27. As the conflict raged on, focus shifted northward to Lebanon, sparking intense exchanges of gunfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which began when missiles were launched in support of Hamas on October 8.
What originated as minor daily engagements quickly escalated into extensive bombardments of Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut and an Israeli ground invasion of southern border villages. This military offensive sought to eradicate Hezbollah fighters from the region and facilitate the return of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from northern homes.
In just two weeks, Israeli military actions have resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives, prompting a mass exodus from southern Lebanon where more than a million people have sought safety elsewhere. Such escalating tensions have birthed fears that larger nations, like the United States and Iran, may find themselves embroiled in a wider conflict in the historically volatile Middle East.
In retaliation for Israel’s operations across Lebanon and Gaza, Iran initiated a missile assault on Israel last week, aligning with its allies, Hezbollah and Hamas. As the situation deteriorates, Israel remains committed to ensuring the safe return of its citizens to the north while preparing for potential retaliation amid rising concerns of a sprawling regional conflict drawing in the U.S.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
