Beirut, Lebanon – Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Sunday night as Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, launched a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel. The attack comes as Israeli forces remain on high alert, anticipating potential retaliation from Iran and its proxies following the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

The latest rocket fire from Hezbollah, which has become a near-daily occurrence since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, underscores the growing fears of a broader regional confrontation. Hezbollah’s salvo, consisting of about 30 rockets, was fired in what the group described as support for the Palestinian people in Gaza and in retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah condemned the Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Ma’aroub, which injured 12 people, including six children, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The militant group framed its rocket attack as a direct response to this assault, further signaling its readiness to escalate the situation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the rocket launches, noting that while some rockets fell into open areas without causing injuries, the situation remains volatile. The IDF reiterated that its forces are on high alert, monitoring developments across the region with a particular focus on Iran and Hezbollah.

“IDF forces are deployed and prepared in high readiness,” said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “If it becomes necessary to change the instructions, we will update about it in an orderly message on the official channels.”

The heightened alert comes as Israeli intelligence reportedly assessed that Iranian forces might be planning an imminent attack in response to the July 31 assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas political leader, in Tehran. The killing of Haniyeh, which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for, has intensified the already fragile situation, raising concerns about the possibility of an Iranian strike that could trigger a wider conflict in the region.

Mediators involved in ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas are making renewed efforts to bring both sides back to the table this week. The urgency of these talks has increased as fears grow that the conflict could spiral into a full-scale regional war, drawing in more players from across the Middle East.

The recent escalation in rocket attacks from Lebanon highlights the volatile interplay of regional politics, with Hezbollah’s actions directly tied to the broader geopolitical struggle between Israel and Iran. As tensions mount, the international community watches with apprehension, aware that any miscalculation could lead to a significant escalation in the conflict.