Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire as tensions escalate

Israeli forces carried out a strike against Hezbollah in Beirut on Friday, shortly after the Lebanese militant group fired more than a hundred rockets toward Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the Friday attack as a targeted strike in Lebanon’s capital.

The state-run National News Agency reported explosions in Beirut’s southern districts, including at apartment buildings.

The level of destruction and the number of casualties are unclear.

The Israeli strikes came after Hezbollah fired some 120 rockets at Israel earlier on Friday, which the IDF said were largely taken out by air defenses.

Still, fallen projectiles and shrapnel sparked some fires, according to the IDF.

On Thursday, Israeli forces also said they took out around 100 Hezbollah launchers that were ready for use against Israel.

Israel had earlier Thursday announced strikes on Lebanon as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was speaking, a day after his fighters were targeted with exploding pagers and handheld radios.

Hezbollah has blamed the pager and radio explosions on Israel and vowed revenge for the attacks that killed at least 37 people and wounded thousands.

The round of attacks has sparked fears that a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah is inching closer after nearly a year of cross-border attacks.