Hezbollah has fired more than 8,000 rockets toward Israel since Oct. 7: Ambassador

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) said Sunday that Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has fired more than 8,000 rockets toward Israel since Oct. 7.

“Last night, hundreds of thousands of Israelis slept in bomb shelters, as Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, which holds Lebanon captive, fired upon them,” Danny Danon said at a U.N. meeting. “Since Oct. 8, over 8,000 rockets have been fired at our people, over 70,000 have been forced to flee their homes, becoming refugees in their own land.”

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire recently, with more than 30 people in Lebanon being killed by an airstrike by Israel aimed at Hezbollah in Beirut, a Lebanese health official said Saturday. 

Health Minister Firass Abiad said in a news conference that the strike resulted in 31 deaths, including seven women and three children. A minimum of 68 people were also injured, and 15 were still recovering in the hospital, according to Abiad.

The strike occurred Friday and killed the head of Hezbollah’s operations unit and the commander of the elite special forces unit, the Radwan Force, according to the Israeli military. Israel also said other senior Radwan commanders were killed.

The Friday strike followed Hezbollah launching about 140 rockets toward Israel, but most of them were downed via Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, according to the Israeli military.

“Let me be clear: We are a peaceful nation. We do not seek war, nor do we desire it,” Danon said. “However, we will not stand by as our people are attacked.”

The Hill has reached out to the Lebanese Ministry of Information.