According to The Times of Israel, rockets and drones fired from Lebanon triggered air raid sirens across northern Israel early Monday, marking a significant escalation as the Iran-backed Hezbollah group joined the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Shortly after 1 a.m., warning sirens sounded in Haifa and nearby communities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed that the incoming fire originated from Lebanon, not Iran. Hezbollah subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the military, one rocket was intercepted by air defense systems, while at least two others landed in open areas. Additional rockets were launched around 3 a.m., also striking open areas without causing casualties or damage.
Drone alerts were also activated in the Upper Galilee region. Israeli air defenses reportedly shot down at least two suspected drones during the incident.
Hezbollah described the assault as retaliation for the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during the initial phase of a joint Israeli-US operation against Iran on Saturday. In a statement, the group said it had launched a barrage of precision missiles and drones, claiming to have targeted a missile defense installation south of Haifa.
Israel responded swiftly with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, including multiple strikes in Beirut and the Dahiyeh suburb, an area widely regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold. The IDF accused Hezbollah of dragging Lebanon into a broader conflict, stating that the group had ignored warnings from both Israel and the Lebanese government to stay out of the fighting.
The escalation comes despite efforts by the Lebanese government to keep Hezbollah on the sidelines, as it had done during the previous 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem had earlier pledged that the group would confront Israel and the United States over their actions against Iran.
This marks the first time Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israel since a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect in November 2024, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
