"Lebanese Hezbollah targeted several military sites in northern Israel simultaneously on 4 November, launching missiles and artillery shells resulting in casualties, Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen reported.
The strikes came one day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a widely anticipated speech affirming that the Lebanese resistance group joined the war against Israel on 8 October, one day after Hamas’ unprecedented surprise attack on Israel.
Saturday’s strikes included the use of Volcano rockets, which have a short range but carry explosive warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms. Hezbollah is thought to have some 130,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, including precision missiles that can reach Tel Aviv.
Hezbollah announced in a statement that they attacked Israeli military sites in Jal Al-Alam, al-Jardah, Hadb Al-Bustan, Malkia, and the Metula outposts.
Hezbollah also downed an Israeli surveillance balloon the Israeli military had deployed above Misgav Am.
In response, Israeli forces launched airstrikes in Al-Mari, Tair Harfa, and Aita Al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, Al-Mayadeen’s correspondent reported.
The Israeli military also launched artillery strikes at Aitaroun, Aita Al-Shaab, Ramia, Alma Al-Shaab, Yarin, and Umm al-Tut, as well as the areas of Al-Labbouneh, Al-Hamames, and the vicinity of Al-Naqourah.
In his speech by satellite Friday, which was attended by thousands of the group’s supporters in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Nasrallah affirmed that Hezbollah has been fighting Israel in support of Gaza since the start of the war.
“Since October 8, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon has been waging a real battle that is only felt by those who are actually on the frontlines on the Lebanese-Palestinian border area,” He clarified.
Some observers had expected Nasrallah to declare full scale war on Israel, in response to its ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza which has killed over 9,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, in less than four weeks.
Nasrallah added that Hezbollah's current battle is "distinct in its conditions, objectives, measures, and targets" from previous periods. 56 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in the fighting so far, including one on Saturday.
The threat of wide-scale attack from Hezbollah on Israel’s northern front caused Israel to keep some one third of its forces there, preventing them from joining the ground invasion of Gaza against Hamas which began last week, Nasrallah stated.
Visiting the north Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed Nasrallah’s assessment.
“We are on the defensive in the north and attacking with full force in the Gaza Strip, this is our priority,” Gallant said. “We are not interested in getting into a war in the north, but we are ready for any task. The Air Force maintains most of its strength for the Lebanese arena, against Hezbollah.”
Gallant said Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, “made a mistake and sealed the fate of Hamas and the fate of Gaza” with the 7 October surprise attack, in which 1,400 Israelis were killed by Hamas and by crossfire from the Israeli army. Hamas also took over 240 Israelis captive, including soldiers and civilians.
“If Nasrallah makes a mistake, he will seal the fate of Lebanon,” Gallant warned."