What's happened
On September 25, 2024, Hezbollah launched a ballistic missile aimed at the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv, which was intercepted by Israeli air defenses. This escalation follows a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, raising fears of a broader conflict amid ongoing violence in Gaza.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah claimed the missile was aimed at the Mossad headquarters, stating it was in retaliation for recent attacks on its leaders. The Israeli military confirmed the interception of the missile, marking a significant moment as it was the first projectile from Lebanon to reach central Israel. The Independent reported that Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 500 casualties, highlighting the severity of the ongoing conflict. The New York Times noted that the missile launch is part of a broader pattern of escalating attacks between Hezbollah and Israel, with fears of a wider regional war growing. This sentiment is echoed by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who urged citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
How we got here
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated since the outbreak of war in Gaza last October. Hezbollah's missile strike marks a significant increase in hostilities, coinciding with heavy Israeli bombardments in Lebanon that have resulted in substantial casualties.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Mossad, short for HaMossad leModiʿin uleTafkidim Meyuḥadim, is the national intelligence agency of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman and Shin Bet.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.