JUST IN: Hezbollah Launches New Wave of Missile Attacks on Israel, Striking Deep as Far as Ashdod
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Conflict & Diplomacy
Hezbollah has launched a major new wave of missile and rocket attacks against Israel, significantly escalating the conflict on the northern front just days after a fragile US-Iran ceasefire was announced. The attacks, which began late Thursday and intensified on Friday, targeted multiple locations across northern and central Israel, including a precision-guided missile strike on an Israeli naval base in the southern port city of Ashdod — one of the deepest attacks attempted by the militant group since the current round of fighting began .
The barrage, which has triggered widespread air raid sirens from the Lebanese border to the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, comes as Hezbollah frames its operations as a direct response to what it describes as Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and the intense bombardment of Beirut that killed more than 300 people on Wednesday .
The Ashdod Strike: A Strategic Deep Attack
In a significant escalation, Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched a missile attack targeting an Israeli military naval base at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel early Friday morning . The group stated that it used “precision-guided missile weaponry” during the attack and claimed a direct hit on the military facility .
The attack on Ashdod — located approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the Lebanese border — represents a significant demonstration of Hezbollah’s reach. It is one of the deepest attacks attempted by the organization during the current fighting, which began after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28 .
The Home Front Command issued an early warning for the missile attack approximately two minutes before sirens sounded in the port city — a rare precautionary measure. Sirens were also activated in Tel Aviv and surrounding towns in central Israel due to concerns over falling interceptor debris .
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the Ashdod strike. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it had received no reports of casualties .
Widespread Attacks Across Northern Israel
In addition to the deep strike on Ashdod, Hezbollah has carried out a series of attacks across northern Israel, targeting military positions, settlements, and infrastructure .
Key Targets and Impacts:
| Target Location | Type of Attack | Reported Damage/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ashdod naval base | Precision-guided missile | Direct hit on military facility claimed |
| Haifa Bay area | Multiple missiles | Intercepted; some fell in open areas |
| Karmiel | Precision missiles | Military infrastructure targeted |
| Safed | Rocket barrage | Vehicles damaged in parking lot; no injuries |
| Nahariya | Rocket barrages | Intercepted; archaeological site damaged |
| Metula | Rocket strikes | Packing house damaged; power outages |
| Misgav Am | Rocket strike | Direct hit on home; 90-year-old woman in shock |
| Kiryat Shmona | Rocket fire | Multiple barrages; power disruptions |
| Meron Air Control Base | Rocket attack | Surveillance facility targeted |
Hezbollah’s military operations have included rocket barrages, drone swarms, and precision-guided missiles. The group announced in consecutive statements the execution of multiple operations, including targeting the settlements of Shlomi and Nahariya with a swarm of attack drones, as well as launching rocket barrages towards the settlements of Shlomi, Nahariya, and Kabri .
The group’s military media released footage documenting the targeting of military infrastructure in the settlement of Karmiel in northern Israel with precision missiles .
Ground Clashes in Southern Lebanon
Beyond stand-off attacks, Hezbollah announced that its fighters were engaged in close-quarters combat against Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanon town of Bint Jbeil . The group said it used light arms and RPG fire against Israeli forces advancing in the town, as well as rocket barrages on other troops in the area .
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not report casualties among Israeli forces from these engagements on Thursday . However, on Friday, the IDF confirmed that a reservist noncommissioned officer was seriously wounded and another soldier was lightly wounded when an explosive drone struck near forces in southern Lebanon. Both were evacuated to a hospital .
Israeli Military Response: Striking Launchers and Expanding Operations
The IDF has responded to the Hezbollah attacks with continued and intensified airstrikes across southern Lebanon.
Airstrikes on Launchers
The Israeli military announced that it struck approximately 10 rocket launchers in Lebanon that were used to fire at northern Israel in the preceding hours, adding that it was continuing to operate to locate and destroy additional launchers . The Israeli Air Force continues to support ground forces and strike Hezbollah terrorist targets across southern Lebanon in coordination with troops on the ground. Over the past day, the air force struck more than 120 terror infrastructure sites .
Ground Invasion Intensifies
The IDF has significantly expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon, with five divisions now operating simultaneously against Hezbollah — the 162nd, 36th, 91st, 98th, and 146th divisions .
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the outskirts of Bint Jbeil, telling troops that “our main combat arena is here in Lebanon” and that the army was continuing to remove the direct threat to Israeli communities along the border .
“The IDF is in a state of war. We are not in a ceasefire. We are continuing to fight here in this sector. This is our main theater. There we are in a ceasefire, and we can return to fighting there at any moment, and in a very powerful way.” — Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, IDF Chief of Staff
Military Casualties and Hezbollah Losses
According to the IDF, since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, Israeli forces operating on the ground, in the air, and at sea have killed more than 1,400 Hezbollah terrorists .
The military said that over the past week, more than 40 terrorists had been killed and more than 50 Hezbollah infrastructure sites destroyed under the direction of the 91st Division. It also said that since the start of the fighting, it had struck and destroyed more than 200 rocket launchers containing about 1,300 launch barrels .
Among those killed this week, the military said, was Ali Kamel Abar al-Hassan, the artillery commander in Hezbollah’s Nasser Unit — one of the terrorist group’s three main battle formations in southern Lebanon. It added that more than 250 artillery operatives had been killed, including 15 commanders responsible for artillery formations in different sectors .
Lebanon’s MTV network, which is known for its opposition to Hezbollah, reported that several members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard were killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday targeting several locations in Beirut, including the southern suburb known as Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold .
Hezbollah’s Justification: ‘Response to Ceasefire Violations’
Hezbollah has framed its military operations as a direct and necessary response to Israeli actions. In a series of statements, the group affirmed that its attacks come in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and repeated assaults on villages in southern Lebanon .
“The Islamic Resistance fighters used precision-guided missile weaponry during the attack on the enemy naval base in Ashdod, southern Israel. This operation was conducted in response to ceasefire violations by Israeli forces and the intense bombardment of Beirut.” — Hezbollah Statement
The group emphasized that its response would continue until what it called “Israeli and U.S. aggression against Lebanon and its people ceases” .
Hezbollah’s justification directly challenges the positions of the United States and Israel, who have insisted that the two-week ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Tehran on April 7 does not apply to Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has declared that the temporary ceasefire “does not include Lebanon” .
The Deadly Context: Israeli Strikes Kill Over 300 in Lebanon
The Hezbollah attacks come in response to one of the deadliest waves of Israeli airstrikes since the conflict with Hezbollah began on March 2. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least 303 people and wounded more than 1,150 others .
Key casualty figures:
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Killed in Wednesday strikes | 303+ |
| Wounded in Wednesday strikes | 1,150+ |
| Total killed since March 2 | 1,888 |
| Total wounded since March 2 | 6,092 |
| Children killed in Wednesday strikes | 30-33 |
| Women killed in Wednesday strikes | 71 |
| People over 65 killed | 9 |
Sources: Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Ahram Online, The New Indian Express
The strikes hit densely packed commercial and residential areas in central Beirut, the southern suburbs (Dahiyeh), the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon — the most intense air campaign since the current conflict began . Several strikes hit during rush hour without prior warning, leading to widespread civilian casualties.
At one site in Corniche al-Mazraa, a residential area in central Beirut, an entire building was razed to the ground, killing multiple people, including a newly engaged employee of a nut and confectionery shop who locals said had no connection to Hezbollah .
Humanitarian Crisis
More than one million people have been displaced by the war, many from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs . More than 200,000 people have fled to Syria since the conflict resumed .
The main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria returned to service Thursday, five days after the IDF warned of plans to strike it, alleging that Hezbollah was using it to smuggle military equipment — a claim Lebanese and Syrian authorities denied .
At hospitals across Beirut, the scene was one of chaos and grief. Dr. Wael Jarrosh at the Makassed Hospital said the facility received around 70 wounded patients within 10 minutes of the blasts. Two people died and five remained hospitalized, including three in intensive care .
“This has destroyed us psychologically.” — Dr. Wael Jarrosh, Makassed Hospital
Dr. Eveline Hitti, chair of the emergency department at the American University of Beirut Hospital, described it as one of the largest “mass casualty events” the facility had experienced in the last 15 years. She noted that roughly 10 percent of those admitted were children, and that many had been orphaned .
The Ceasefire Dispute: Lebanon’s Exclusion Contested
The ongoing violence highlights the fundamental disagreement over whether the two-week US-Iran ceasefire applies to Lebanon — a dispute that has plagued the diplomatic process since its inception .
Competing Positions:
| Party | Position on Lebanon’s Inclusion |
|---|---|
| Iran | Ceasefire includes Lebanon; Israeli strikes are violations |
| Pakistan (Mediator) | Ceasefire applies “everywhere, including Lebanon” |
| United States | Lebanon NOT included; “separate skirmish” |
| Israel | Ceasefire “does not include Lebanon”; Hezbollah not covered |
President Trump has been explicit in his rejection of Lebanon’s inclusion. In an interview following the ceasefire announcement, Trump stated that Lebanon was “not included” in the agreement and described the war there as “a separate skirmish” .
Vice President JD Vance has reinforced this position. “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t,” Vance told reporters .
Iran, however, has vehemently rejected the US-Israeli interpretation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the terms of the ceasefire, as outlined by Pakistani mediator Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were clear and included Lebanon .
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf went further, stating that “Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire” and warning that continued Israeli attacks would “render negotiations meaningless” .
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also weighed in, posting on social media that “our hands remain on the trigger” and that Iran “will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters” .
Civilian Impact in Northern Israel
While the majority of casualties have occurred in Lebanon, the Hezbollah attacks have also taken a toll on Israeli civilians. Residents along the Lebanon border face repeated alerts, drone warnings, and strikes that have damaged civilian property and disrupted electricity .
In Kibbutz Misgav Am, a rocket struck a home, causing heavy damage. A woman in her 90s who was inside suffered shock, but there were no physical injuries .
In Metula, a rocket hit a packing house and apparently also damaged a high-voltage power line, causing a power outage in the town. A fire broke out, but no injuries were reported .
Asaf Langleben, head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council, visited the scene in Misgav Am and delivered a stark message:
“Here in Misgav Am, there is no ceasefire, there is war. You can see here the damage caused this morning to an apartment where people live. Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu], you must remove the threat from all the communities of the north. Now, not later. If there is no security in the north of the State of Israel, there will be no security in all of Israel.” — Asaf Langleben, Upper Galilee Regional Council Head
Home Front Command restrictions remained in force in the confrontation line communities along the Lebanon border, as well as in the northern Golan, Upper Galilee, Haifa Bay, and other areas. In those areas, educational activity is permitted only inside standard protected spaces, and gatherings are limited to 50 people indoors and 200 outdoors .
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Escalation
Despite the ongoing violence, multiple diplomatic tracks remain active — though their prospects are increasingly uncertain.
US-Hosted Israel-Lebanon Talks
A US State Department official has confirmed that the United States will host direct talks between Israel and Lebanon next week as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations . The talks are expected to begin at the State Department in Washington, with US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa serving as mediator and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter leading the Israeli delegation .
However, a senior Lebanese source, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu that “the meeting at the US State Department next week is preparatory, not a negotiation” . Lebanon has not yet appointed someone to lead talks from Beirut, though President Joseph Aoun is reportedly keen to have a temporary ceasefire in place when talks commence .
Islamabad Talks in Jeopardy
The scheduled Islamabad talks between US and Iranian delegations are also in doubt. Iran has insisted that its delegation will not participate unless the US upholds its commitments regarding Lebanon .
On Thursday, a source told Iran’s Fars news agency that “claims by some media outlets that an Iranian negotiating delegation has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to hold talks with US officials are completely false. Negotiations remain suspended until the US upholds its commitments regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon and the Israeli regime stops its attacks” .
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was expected to lead Iran’s delegation, cast further doubt on the talks. “In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable,” he said, accusing the US of breaching the 10-point peace framework that led to the pause in strikes .
Netanyahu’s Negotiation Announcement
Amid the escalation, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israel will open direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” focusing on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the establishment of peaceful relations between the two countries .
However, Israeli officials have made clear that there is currently “no ceasefire” in Lebanon and that negotiations will occur without any prior halt to military operations . This “talks under fire” approach reflects Israel’s stated strategy of using military pressure to force Hezbollah’s disarmament while simultaneously engaging the Lebanese government on a political track.
The Fragile Humanitarian Situation
The escalation has pushed Lebanon’s healthcare system to the breaking point. With 52 paramedics killed and over 100 ambulances reportedly hit in Israeli strikes, the country’s emergency response capacity is severely degraded .
The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the escalating attacks on healthcare in Lebanon. Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO representative in Lebanon, confirmed that UN officials have received guarantees that two major Beirut hospitals — Rafik Hariri Central Public Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital — will not be attacked. However, he added a crucial caveat: Israeli forces have simultaneously warned that “ambulances will be attacked” .
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced that his country will file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council, calling the Israeli attacks a “blatant violation” of international and humanitarian law .
In a cabinet session Thursday, the Lebanese government announced a plan to demilitarize Beirut and deploy an increased level of security patrols. However, even before the renewed war, Lebanon’s government had sought Hezbollah’s disarmament — an issue that has inflamed tensions among Lebanese who are deeply divided over the terror group and its arsenal .
Melhem Khalaf, a reformist legislator representing Beirut, was critical of Israel’s strikes but also of Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon back into war:
“All the targeted areas are safe residential Lebanese areas. What we are witnessing is a massacre against civilians.” — Melhem Khalaf, Lebanese Legislator
What Comes Next: A Conflict at a Crossroads
The Hezbollah missile attacks on Israel — including the unprecedented strike on Ashdod — represent a significant escalation at a moment of extreme diplomatic fragility. As the violence intensifies, several key questions will determine the trajectory of the conflict:
- Will the US-hosted Israel-Lebanon talks proceed? With Israel continuing military operations and Lebanon demanding a ceasefire first, the prospects for productive negotiations are uncertain.
- Can the Islamabad talks be salvaged? Iran has threatened to boycott unless the US enforces a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon. The coming hours will be critical.
- How will Israel respond to the Ashdod strike? The attack deep inside Israeli territory may prompt a significant Israeli military response, potentially escalating the conflict further.
- What is Hezbollah’s endgame? The group has demonstrated continued military capabilities and willingness to use them. Whether it seeks to force a ceasefire or is preparing for a prolonged war remains unclear.
- What is the humanitarian toll? With over 300 killed in Lebanon and hospitals overwhelmed, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene.
For now, the ceasefire that was announced with such hope just days ago has failed to stop the bloodshed. As one resident of northern Israel told reporters, “Here in Misgav Am, there is no ceasefire, there is war” . The coming days will determine whether diplomacy can catch up to the violence — or whether the region is sliding into an even wider conflagration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What targets did Hezbollah attack in Israel?
Hezbollah launched multiple attacks, including a precision-guided missile strike on an Israeli naval base in Ashdod (one of the deepest attacks attempted), drone swarms targeting Shlomi and Nahariya, rocket barrages on multiple settlements including Avivim, Metula, and Kabri, and precision missile strikes on military infrastructure in Karmiel and the Meron Air Control Base .
2. Was there damage or casualties from the Ashdod missile strike?
The missile fired toward the Ashdod naval base was intercepted by Israeli air defenses. There were no reports of injuries, though sirens were activated in Tel Aviv due to concerns over falling interceptor debris .
3. How has Israel responded to the Hezbollah attacks?
The IDF struck approximately 10 Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon and has continued airstrikes on Hezbollah positions, with over 120 terror infrastructure sites hit in the past day. Five IDF divisions are now operating simultaneously in southern Lebanon in an expanded ground campaign .
4. What were the casualties from Israeli strikes on Lebanon?
Lebanese health authorities report that Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least 303 people and wounded more than 1,150. Since the conflict began on March 2, 1,888 people have been killed and 6,092 wounded in Lebanon .
5. Does the US-Iran ceasefire apply to Lebanon?
This remains a major point of dispute. Iran and Pakistan maintain that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, while the United States and Israel have explicitly denied this. President Trump has stated that Lebanon was “not included” in the agreement .
6. Are Israel and Lebanon still planning peace talks?
Yes. A US State Department official confirmed that the US will host direct talks between Israel and Lebanon next week in Washington. However, a Lebanese source described the meeting as “preparatory, not a negotiation,” and Israel has made clear there is “no ceasefire” and negotiations will occur “under fire” .
7. What is the status of the Islamabad talks between the US and Iran?
The talks are in jeopardy. Iran has stated that its delegation will not participate unless the US upholds its commitments regarding Lebanon. Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf has called negotiations “unreasonable” under the current circumstances .
8. What has been the humanitarian impact in Lebanon?
Over one million people have been displaced. More than 200,000 have fled to Syria. Hospitals have been overwhelmed, with doctors describing the psychological toll as devastating. The WHO has expressed concern over attacks on healthcare, including strikes on ambulances .
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