Hezbollah launched 35 coordinated attacks across northern Israel on Thursday, targeting a wide array of civilian settlements, military installations, and troop concentrations. The surge in activity comes amid a volatile regional security environment and follows a series of intense Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon that have significantly raised the casualty count over the last 24 hours.
According to reports from the ground, the operations focused heavily on the border regions, with 22 separate settlements targeted by a combination of drones and rocket fire. This latest escalation brings the total number of Hezbollah attacks to 1,595 since March 2, as the group continues to frame its actions as a direct response to Israeli military operations within Lebanese territory.
The timing of these strikes is particularly critical. They occur just as a fragile, two-week truce between the United States and Iran—brokered by Pakistan—attempts to seize hold. While Tehran and Islamabad have asserted that the ceasefire extends to Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv have explicitly denied this, leading to what Lebanese health officials describe as some of the most violent strikes of the current conflict.
The human cost of this escalation is mounting rapidly. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reports that Wednesday’s strikes alone left 303 people dead and 1,150 injured. Since the onset of the current wave of aggression on March 2, the total death toll in Lebanon has reached 1,888, with 6,092 others wounded.
Breakdown of Thursday’s Military Operations
Hezbollah’s tactical approach on Thursday shifted between long-range rocket barrages and high-risk, close-quarters engagements. The group reported a diverse set of targets designed to disrupt both military logistics and civilian stability in northern Israel.
The most significant concentration of fire hit the settlement of Kiryat Shomera, which was targeted eight times. Other settlements, including Al-Manara, Nahariya, Al-Mutala, Avivim, and Shlomi, were each hit twice, while others like Kabri and Maskaf Am also came under fire. These strikes utilized a mix of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and rocket salvos.
Beyond the settlements, the group targeted specific military assets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Three vehicles were reportedly neutralized via drone strikes: a Nimr armored vehicle in the town of Al-Tayiba, a Merkava tank on the Al-Tayiba-Deir Saryan road, and a D9 military bulldozer, also in Al-Tayiba.
The group also reported five distinct engagements with Israeli troop clusters. These included clashes with forces positioned inside a residence in the Al-Tayiba project, troops at the Al-Marj site, and a gathering in Maskaf Am. Most notably, Hezbollah claimed “zero-distance” combat—meaning direct, face-to-face fighting—using light and medium weapons as well as rocket shells against Israeli forces attempting to advance toward the market in the city of Bint Jbeil.
| Target Category | Number of Targets | Primary Weaponry |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian Settlements | 22 | Drones and Rockets |
| Military Vehicles | 3 | UAVs/Drones |
| Troop Concentrations | 5 | Small arms and Rockets |
| Military Infrastructure | 5 | Rocket Salvos |
Infrastructure and Strategic Sites
In addition to the personnel and vehicle targets, five military sites and infrastructure points were hit by rocket barrages. These included the Hunin barracks opposite the border town of Markaba, the Al-Assi site opposite Meiss el-Jabal, and the Hadbat al-Ajl site north of the Kfarvogel settlement. Infrastructure in the settlements of Yesud HaMa’ala and Ma’alot-Tarshiha was also targeted.
Hezbollah stated that these operations are conducted in defense of the Lebanese people and in response to what it termed a violation of the ceasefire agreement related to the war with Iran. The group emphasized that these responses will persist until the “Israeli-American aggression” against Lebanon ceases.
The Fog of War and Information Control
While Hezbollah has been detailed in its claims, the Israeli side has maintained a strict information blackout. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not released data regarding casualties or the extent of the damage resulting from Thursday’s 35 attacks.
This silence is part of a broader military censorship policy. The Israeli military has imposed rigid controls on media reporting, issuing warnings against the publication of photos or specific details regarding losses or the exact locations of targeted sites. This creates a significant gap in the verified casualty count, leaving the international community to rely on Hezbollah’s claims and independent satellite or ground observations.
This tension exists against a backdrop of complex territorial disputes. Israel continues to occupy portions of southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the conflict period between October 2023 and November 2024. These occupied zones remain the primary flashpoints for the “zero-distance” clashes reported in Bint Jbeil.
Regional Context: The US-Iran Truce
The escalation in Lebanon is inextricably linked to the wider conflict between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran. On Wednesday morning, the United States and Iran announced a two-week truce, facilitated by Pakistani mediation. This truce is intended as a stepping stone toward a final agreement to end the war that began on February 28, which has already resulted in thousands of casualties.
However, the disagreement over the scope of this truce is the primary driver of the current violence. While Pakistan and Iran insist the ceasefire includes Lebanon, the U.S. And Israel have rejected this interpretation. This diplomatic deadlock has allowed the Israeli military to continue its campaign in Lebanon, which the Lebanese Ministry of Health describes as the most aggressive phase since the start of the current hostilities.
For those monitoring the situation, official updates on the humanitarian status in Lebanon can be found through the World Health Organization and regional health ministries, while diplomatic updates on the truce are typically issued via the U.S. Department of State and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The immediate focus now turns to the remaining days of the U.S.-Iran truce. Whether the Pakistani mediation can successfully expand the ceasefire to include the Lebanese border will determine if the current cycle of rocket fire and airstrikes subsides or escalates into a broader regional conflagration.
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