Hezbollah launched 5,300 missiles, drones targeting Israel since October

Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah has fired about 5,300 rockets, shells and drones at northern Israel since the start of the military escalation in the Gaza Strip last October, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 Israeli soldiers and civilians, said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokeswoman Anna Ukolova.

"Since the start of military activities in October 2023, Hezbollah has conducted about 5,300 launches, including missiles, drones and anti-tank shells, targeting northern territories of Israel. As a result, 12 civilians and 20 soldiers have died," Ukolova said.

The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters fire on each other's positions almost daily in areas along the border.

The Israeli military said in June that it had approved plans for an offensive against Lebanon, while Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that the Jewish state could launch an all-out war against its neighbor. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the movement would invade northern Israel if the confrontation intensified.