Israel’s air defence system intercepted a missile launched from Lebanon towards Tel Aviv on Wednesday in a rare attack by Hezbollah on the nation’s economic capital, its military said.
The single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted after it was detected crossing from Lebanon, marking Hezbollah’s first attack on central Israel in the near year-long conflict between the two.
Hezbollah said it launched a rocket targeting Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv, which it claims was responsible for assassinating leaders and blowing up pagers and walkie-talkies.
There were no reports of damage or casualties. While warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and the city of Netanya, the military said there was no change to civil defence instructions for central Israel.
The Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya network reported that the missile was aimed at the Glilot military intelligence compound in central Israel.
The Israeli military also said its fighter jets intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crossed from Syria on Wednesday.
“The UAV was intercepted … south of the Sea of Galilee. No damage or injuries were reported,” it said.
Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles and rockets at Israel in recent days amid a sharp escalation in a cross-border conflict that has lasted for nearly a year.
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon reportedly rose to 569 on Tuesday, while more than 1,800 have been injured.
Casualty figures increased after the highest single-day death toll was reported on Monday in Lebanon since the civil war ended in 1990.
Israeli air strikes were reported in Lebanon’s southern towns and cities, including Jiyyeh, Tyre and Nabatiye.
Civilians continued to flee the area, resulting in gridlock on the main road leading north.
An Israeli air strike targeting Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi in the southern suburbs of Beirut killed at least six people, including the commander, while 15 others were injured, Lebanese officials said.
The Iranian-backed group later confirmed the death of Qubaisi.
Israel reported more than 300 impacts, including inside Haifa, which has been largely spared during the conflict so far.
A senior UN source told i that the death toll would continue to rise as emergency workers carried out further search and rescue operations in areas targeted by strikes.
Dr Nasser Yassin, Head of the National Committee for Disaster and Attack Response Co-ordination, said more than 200,000 people had fled targeted areas with hundreds of schools repurposed as emergency shelters.
Dr Yassin told i that Lebanon had begun implementing a “pre-established plan, expanding shelter centres, and distributing aid in collaboration with our partners.”
At least 569 people were killed and 1,835 injured in Israeli strikes since Monday. At least 50 of the dead were children and 94 were women, the Lebanese Health Minister, Firass Abiad, said on Tuesday.
Keir Startmer has warned UK nationals in Lebanon “now is the time to leave” as British troops were deployed to Cyprus amid fears of further military escalation in the region.
Around 700 UK troops are being moved to Cyprus to help assist the evacuation of up to 10,000 Britons who could require evacuation from Lebanon if commercial air routes and roads are closed off due to the conflict.
