Beirut/Jerusalem – The Lebanese Hezbollah group has claimed responsibility for launching more than 200 rockets at several Israeli military bases on Thursday, following an Israeli strike that killed one of its senior commanders, Mohammad Naameh Nasser. This marks one of the largest escalations in the ongoing conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border in recent weeks.

The Israeli military confirmed that “numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets” had entered its territory from Lebanon, with many intercepted. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Approximately 200 rockets were aimed at the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and over 20 drones were launched into Israeli territory, though many were intercepted.

In retaliation, Israel targeted various towns in southern Lebanon, including Ramyeh and Houla, striking Hezbollah’s “military structures.” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli drone strike in Houla killed at least one person. Additionally, Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over Beirut and other areas.

The conflict escalated following Israel’s acknowledgment on Wednesday of the killing of Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah’s three regional divisions in southern Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The group continued its offensive on Thursday, also deploying explosive drones into several Israeli bases.

Nasser was a significant figure within Hezbollah, having participated in conflicts in Syria and Iraq from 2011 to 2016 and in the 2006 war with Israel. His death, along with that of two other senior Hezbollah commanders, has intensified hostilities.

The U.S. and France are urgently working to prevent the skirmishes from escalating into a broader regional conflict.