Hezbollah fires rockets after Israel’s airstrike on Iran

Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, after the IDF launched strikes against Iran. See photos, video.

Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli forces near a village in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army has carried out ground incursions for weeks, after the IDF launched strikes against Iran.

The Iran-backed group said in a statement its fighters targeted Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of the village of Aita al-Shaab.

Israel struck a significant blow against Iran’s air defences in an overnight raid that bombed at least 20 military targets, including sites near the capital Tehran.

The Israeli Air Force launched three waves of jet fighters, spy planes and refuelling aircraft in a “complex” operation.

The attack was labelled “Days of Repentance”, with military leaders claiming that it was in retaliation to Iran firing 200 missiles at Israel on October 1.

“The reprisal strike was completed, and its objectives were achieved,” IDF Rear Admiral Hagari said on Saturday.

“Now, Israel has wider freedom of action also in Iran. Iran struck Israel twice… and has paid the price for that.

“We are focused on the goals of the war in Gaza and Lebanon. It is Iran that continues to push for a wide regional escalation.”

Iran said it was obliged to defend itself, after Israeli retaliatory strikes hit military targets and killed two soldiers in the Islamic republic.

“Iran has the right and the duty to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

The four-hour attack has significantly raised the stakes in the battle for control of the Middle East.

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