Hezbollah targets Haifa as Israel steps up attack in Gaza, Lebanon

Cross-border attacks marked the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across West Asia.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel’s third largest city, Haifa, on Monday as Israeli forces looked poised to expand ground raids into south Lebanon. Iran-backed group said it targeted a military base south of Haifa with Fadi 1 missiles and launched another strike on Tiberias, 65 km away. It also targeted areas north of Haifa in a second salvo of missiles later in the day. Hamas also said it struck Tel Aviv with a missile salvo.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military said around 135 projectiles entered Israeli territory on Monday till 7.30 pm. Ten people were injured in Haifa and two in central Israel. Besides, a surface-to-surface missile fired from Yemen was intercepted. The missile set off air raid sirens in central Israel. Palestinian militants in Gaza also fired four rockets as mourners marked the anniversary of the October 7 attack.

The Israel’s military further said the air force was carrying out extensive bombings of Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon, in which 10 firefighters were killed. Israel also stepped up air and ground attacks on Hamas in Gaza, killing at least 52 people.

US sanctions on Hamas

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on an international Hamas fundraising network, accusing it of playing a critical role in external fundraising for the militant group, in action marking the first anniversary of the Gaza war. The US Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on three people and a “sham charity”.