Beirut/Haifa — Intense cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continued into Sunday, marking one of the most significant escalations in nearly a year. Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese militia, launched a barrage of rockets at northern Israel overnight, targeting industrial and military sites, while Israeli warplanes responded with extensive bombardments of southern Lebanon.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), over 100 rockets were fired from Lebanon, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems. However, some homes in northern Israel were hit, and air raid sirens blared throughout the night, signaling the escalating danger for residents near the border. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting the Israeli Ramat David Airbase with dozens of missiles, marking the deepest strikes on Israeli territory since hostilities began in October.

The Lebanese militant group stated the attacks were in retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes, including one that killed at least 37 people in a suburb of Beirut on Friday. Among the dead were 16 Hezbollah members, including senior leaders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi.

In response, Israel launched its most extensive air campaign in months, striking around 290 Hezbollah targets, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesperson. The strikes targeted Hezbollah’s rocket launchers and military infrastructure, focusing on dismantling the group's ability to strike Israeli territory. Fighter jets have been heavily involved in the bombardment, which Israeli officials say is aimed at preventing Hezbollah from preparing further missile attacks.

IDF forces are also on high alert as the conflict threatens to escalate further. Restrictions on gatherings and heightened alert levels remain in place for northern Israeli communities, including the Haifa area and parts of the Golan Heights.

The escalating violence has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Friday’s Israeli airstrike killed at least three children and seven women, in addition to the Hezbollah militants. The destruction of a residential building in a crowded Beirut suburb has fueled fears of further civilian casualties as the conflict widens.

On the Israeli side, while no serious injuries were reported, numerous homes were damaged by falling missile debris. Local ambulance services said they treated several people for light injuries.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been intensifying since October 8, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli positions in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. The flare-up has raised concerns of a broader regional war, with U.S. officials warning that further escalation could destabilize the region.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed concern about the situation but said the killing of a top Hezbollah leader by Israeli forces could provide a path to de-escalation. “While the risk of escalation is real, we actually believe there is a distinct avenue to getting to a cessation of hostilities,” Sullivan told reporters.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has issued a warning to its citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights remain available, citing concerns over the ongoing violence. Jordan’s foreign ministry has issued similar advice to its citizens.

Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have reiterated their goal of pushing Hezbollah forces back from the northern border and ensuring the safe return of displaced Israeli residents. Gallant said the “new phase” of Israel's war in the north would continue until that objective is achieved. Thousands of residents in northern Israel have evacuated their homes since Hezbollah began launching attacks in early October.

The conflict has claimed at least 70 lives in Lebanon over the past week alone, pushing the death toll in the country to more than 740 since hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel began in October. This marks the worst escalation between the two sides since the 2006 Lebanon War, raising fears of a prolonged and devastating conflict.

As international leaders call for a ceasefire and efforts to contain the Gaza conflict, both Hezbollah and Israel show no signs of backing down. With the violence intensifying, there are growing concerns that the war between Hamas and Israel could spiral into a broader regional conflict involving multiple fronts.