Hezbollah fires missile at Tel Aviv in further escalation of conflict

Hezbollah launched dozens of projectiles into Israel early Wednesday, including a missile aimed at Tel Aviv, marking the group's deepest strike yet and further escalating the conflict after Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon resulted in hundreds of casualties.

The Israeli military reported that it intercepted the surface-to-surface missile, which triggered air-raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel. There were no reported injuries or damage. In response, Israel struck the site in southern Lebanon from which the missile had been launched.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had fired a Qader 1 ballistic missile targeting Israel's Mossad intelligence agency headquarters. The group holds Mossad responsible for a series of targeted killings of its senior commanders and a recent attack that used explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies, killing dozens and injuring thousands, including many Hezbollah members.

This marked the first time a projectile from Lebanon had reached central Israel, according to the Israeli military. Hezbollah had previously claimed to have struck an intelligence base near Tel Aviv last month, but that was not confirmed. Meanwhile, Hamas militants in Gaza have been frequently targeting Tel Aviv since the start of the conflict.

The missile attack has heightened tensions in a region already on the brink of full-scale war, as Israel continues its battle against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes on Monday and Tuesday killed over 560 people in Lebanon, displacing thousands who have sought shelter in Beirut, Sidon, and other coastal cities, often sleeping in makeshift shelters, cars, or along the beach. Some people attempted to leave Lebanon, causing long lines at the Syrian border.

In addition to the missile aimed at Tel Aviv, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday. One of the rockets hit an empty home, causing a fire in Safed. At one point, militants fired 40 projectiles simultaneously. Israel responded with further airstrikes, killing at least three people and injuring nine near Byblos, a town north of Beirut, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

While Israel has not announced plans for a ground invasion, its air campaign continues with no clear timeline. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified over the past 11 months, with Hezbollah frequently launching attacks in support of Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded with targeted strikes on Hezbollah leaders and threatened a broader military campaign.

The U.N. Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Lebanon on Wednesday, following a request from France.

Nearly a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border, and this week's escalation has worsened the situation. Israel remains determined to secure the safety of its citizens in the north, while Hezbollah vows to continue its attacks until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, a prospect that seems increasingly unlikely.

Over the past week, the rocket fire has disrupted life for more than a million people in northern Israel, leading to school closures and restrictions on public gatherings. Many businesses in Haifa have also shut down, and some who fled from the northern border are now facing renewed rocket attacks.