Hezbollah, the Lebanese group backed by Iran, has claimed responsibility for launching rockets and drones into Israel. The attacks, which occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday, were said to be in retaliation for what the group described as the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a statement, Hezbollah declared that the strikes were in defense of Lebanon and its people, and a response to repeated Israeli aggressions. The group said it targeted the Israeli army's missile defense site at Mishmar HaCarmel, south of Haifa.
The Israeli military confirmed that it had begun conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah positions throughout Lebanon. These strikes are reportedly in response to the attacks claimed by Hezbollah.
Explosions were heard in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the Hezbollah group, according to reports.