Israel responds to Hezbollah attacks with rocket fire on Beirut command centers

On Sunday, Israel was targeted by a barrage of missiles and projectiles from Hezbollah in response to IDF strikes on the militant group's command centers in Beirut.

On Sunday, Hezbollah launched approximately 250 rockets and projectiles, which were intercepted, marking one of their heaviest attacks in recent months. Some of the rockets reached the Tel Aviv area, the heart of Israel.

An Israeli strike on an army center in Lebanon killed a soldier and injured 18 others, according to the Lebanese military. The Israeli military stated that the strike took place in an area of combat against Hezbollah and that its operations are aimed solely at the militants.

On Saturday, at least 29 people were killed and 67 were injured in central Beirut as Israeli airstrikes pounded the area.

On Sunday, smoke rose above Beirut once more due to new strikes. Israel's military stated that they targeted the command centers for Hezbollah and its intelligence unit in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, where the militants have a significant presence.

After Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack from the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles, and drones into Israel, portraying the attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups.

In response to Hezbollah's attacks, Israel carried out retaliatory airstrikes in September, which escalated the conflict into a full-scale war, resulting in the death of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Over 3,700 people have been killed in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, according to the Health Ministry. The conflict has forced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon's population, to flee their homes.

In the north of Israel, approximately 90 soldiers and 50 civilians have been killed due to bombardment and battles following Israel's ground invasion in early October, resulting in the displacement of about 60,000 Israelis.

Over 40 Lebanese soldiers have been killed by Israeli attacks during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, despite Lebanon's military mostly remaining inactive.

Najib Mikati, Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, denounced the latest strike as a direct rejection of U.S.-led cease-fire efforts, calling it a "bloody message" that undermines ongoing contacts aimed at ending the war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.