Hezbollah Rockets Strike Northern Israel Following Deadly Surge in Lebanese Air Attacks

Hezbollah claims first rocket attacks since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, citing Israel's massive "Operation Eternal Darkness" as the catalyst for escalation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 3:09 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel, CBS News, and Reuters

Militant Group Ends Brief Pause with Retaliatory Rocket Fire

Lebanon's Hezbollah group formally claimed responsibility for launching a wave of rockets toward northern Israel on Thursday morning, effectively ending a short lived operational pause. The attacks targeted several border locations, including the community of Avivim and the kibbutz of Manara, where sirens forced residents into bomb shelters. In an official statement, Hezbollah leadership described the move as an initial response to what they termed Israeli violations of the regional truce. This escalation occurred less than 48 hours after the United States and Iran reached a 14 day ceasefire agreement, a deal that Hezbollah’s patrons in Tehran had suggested would encompass all regional fronts.

Israel Asserts Lebanon Excluded from Regional Ceasefire Terms

The resurgence of violence follows a clear diplomatic divergence regarding the scope of the recently announced truce. While Iranian officials and Pakistani mediators initially indicated that Lebanon was covered by the agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified on Wednesday evening that the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Hezbollah. U.S. Vice President JD Vance supported this stance, noting that the agreement was specifically designed to de-escalate direct U.S.-Iran hostilities rather than the "separate skirmish" in Lebanon. This legal and diplomatic distinction has allowed Israel to maintain a high intensity military campaign against Hezbollah assets despite the broader cessation of hostilities with Tehran.

Operation Eternal Darkness Devastates Central Beirut and Southern Regions

The immediate catalyst for Hezbollah’s rocket fire was an unprecedented Israeli offensive on Wednesday dubbed "Operation Eternal Darkness." According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strikes killed at least 254 people and wounded more than 1,100 others within a single day. The Israeli Air Force utilized approximately 50 fighter jets to hit over 100 targets in less than ten minutes, striking residential and commercial districts in central Beirut, Sidon, and the Beqaa Valley without prior warning. Israel defended the operation as a necessary surprise strike against Hezbollah’s intelligence centers, naval units, and elite Radwan Force infrastructure, though international observers have raised concerns over the high civilian casualty coun...