Hezbollah launches major barrage on Israel after senior commander killed

Iran-backed group responds to loss of senior figure by firing salvo of dozens of rockets into northern Israel

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Hezbollah launched a major barrage of rockets on Israel on Wednesday in response to the assassination of a senior commander from the Lebanese armed group overnight.

Israel's military reported about 215 projectiles had been fired into the country from Lebanon, while Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of rockets at various targets.

The military said that several rockets were intercepted but others fell inside the north of the country, sparking fires in some areas.

Israeli authorities later announced that more than 20 firefighting teams and eight aircraft were dispatched to tackle the blazes.

Hezbollah named its commander killed in the Israeli strike as Sami Abdallah – also known as Abu Taleb.

That Hezbollah referred to him as a “commander” – a rare acknowledgement – underlines his seniority.

Speaking at the funeral of Mr Abdallah, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine warned the group would strengthen their attacks and increase their intensity in response.

The Israeli military in a statement referred to Mr Abdallah as "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon" and said he had "planned, advanced, and carried out a large number of terror attacks against Israeli civilians".

Mr Abdallah, who Hezbollah said was 55, was killed in the village of Jouaiya, about 15km from the Israeli border. Another three fighters were also killed in the attack.

Israel’s military said it struck sites in Hanine and Yater, in southern Lebanon, from where Hezbollah launched parts of its barrage.

Hezbollah claimed at least five attacks in response to what it described as an assassination by Israel in Jouaiya, including one in which Hezbollah fighters fired guided missiles at an Israeli military factory.

Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and Israel have steadily expanded in scope and intensity since October.

Israel has regularly hit sites deep into Lebanon, while Hezbollah has used more advanced weaponry over time.

Last Thursday, the militant group used anti-aircraft missiles against Israeli fighter jets for the first time.

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon on June 12. AFP

In January, Wissam Tawil – commonly known as Hajj Jawad – was assassinated by Israel.

He was a commander in the Radwan force, Hezbollah's secretive special operations unit.

After announcing Mr Abdallah's death, Hezbollah released an image of him with his arm around Mr Tawil.

A Jouaiya resident said it was common to see Mr Abdallah around the village.

“He was a normal guy,” the resident told The National. “We knew he was Hezbollah but not his position.”

It is the first time Jouaiya has been attacked since the conflict broke out on the Lebanese border on October 8 between Hezbollah and Israel. The Lebanese group says it is supporting ally Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza.

In southern Lebanon, about 300 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since the conflict broke out, along with about 80 civilians.

In northern Israel, Hezbollah attacks have killed 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, Israel says.