Hezbollah escalates conflict with unprecedented missile barrage on Tel Aviv

Hezbollah launched an unprecedented attack on Tel Aviv and southern Israel on Sunday, deploying dozens of missiles and strike drones, according to statements from the Iran-backed militant group. The strikes mark a significant intensification in the ongoing conflict, targeting Israel’s central region and key military sites.

For the first time, Hezbollah claimed to have used “a swarm of strike drones” to attack the Ashdod naval base in southern Israel. In a separate operation, the group said it unleashed “a barrage of advanced missiles and a swarm of strike drones” against a military target in Tel Aviv.

Israeli air raid sirens blared across central and northern regions, including the greater Tel Aviv area, as the military reported intercepting several of the approximately 55 projectiles fired from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border escalated further as an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army post in Amriyeh killed one soldier and injured 18 others, several critically, according to a statement from the Lebanese army. “One soldier was martyred, and 18 others were injured, including some with severe wounds,” the statement read.

The attacks underscore the growing involvement of Hezbollah in the broader conflict, raising fears of a wider regional war as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza. The unprecedented use of drones and advanced missiles by Hezbollah signals a shift in tactics, adding a new layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.

This latest escalation follows weeks of heightened hostilities, with both sides trading cross-border strikes, further destabilizing the region.