The Middle East was on edge Friday as Israel and Hezbollah exchanged a new and intense barrage of fire after stunning attacks targeting the group’s communication devices killed dozens of people and left thousands injured across Lebanon.
The prospect of an all-out war between the U.S. ally and the Iran-backed militant and political group appeared closer than ever as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed revenge and Israel moved ahead with the “new phase” it said the conflict had entered.
The attacks earlier this week saw thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives explode nearly simultaneously across Lebanon, killing at least 37 people, including two children, and injuring close to 3,000.
The blasts sowed fear and chaos across the nation, overwhelming hospitals and leaving people fearful of using electronic devices. They also left a trail to companies in Asia and Europe, with authorities in Taiwan and Bulgaria on Friday playing down links to the complex operation.
Despite pleas for restraint from the U.S. and its allies, the two sides continued to escalate.
The Israeli military said late Thursday that its air force hit about 100 Hezbollah launchers and other infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon it said were set to be fired at Israeli territory — one of the heaviest barrages on the area since the two sides began exchanging regular fire in the wake of the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attacks and Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.
It followed a stunning operation earlier this week in which thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives exploded nearly simultaneously across Lebanon, killing at least 37 people, including two children, and injuring close to 3,000. The attacks sowed fear and chaos across the nation, overwhelming hospitals and making people fearful of using any electronic devices.
The strikes continued early Friday, Lebanese state news agency and Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV channel said. Hezbollah said it responded by bombing an air defense base and military barracks in northern Israel.
“Make no mistake: those who harm the people of Israel will pay the price,” Israel’s foreign ministry said on X, confirming “intensive Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon” toward northern Israel.
It came a day after the Hezbollah leader delivered his much-anticipated response to the device attacks.
“There is no doubt that we have been exposed to a major and severe security and humanitarian blow,” Nasrallah said in a televised address Thursday.
He accused Israel of an act of war against Lebanon, but stopped short of specifying how or when his group would retaliate.
“The enemy has crossed all red lines and all laws in this attack,” Nasrallah said, as Israeli warplanes flew above the Lebanese capital, Beirut, creating a deafening sonic boom.
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