Haifa has suffered its worst rocket attack in nearly two decades as Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets deep into northern Israel early Sunday morning. The attack, which comes in response to Israeli airstrikes in Beirut that killed several Hezbollah members, marks the furthest Hezbollah has struck into Israel since 2006, with devastating effects on residential areas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hezbollah fired 150 rockets, many of which were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems. However, several rockets made it through and struck Haifa and its suburbs, causing extensive damage. A teenager was killed while attempting to flee the attack, and three others were injured, prompting emergency services to work through the night to assist those affected.
Hezbollah’s statement claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had targeted two strategic locations — the Rafael Company’s defense facilities and Ramat David Military Airport near Haifa. The group described the rocket barrage as a response to Israeli airstrikes earlier in the week, which killed numerous civilians and Hezbollah operatives in Beirut. This escalation marks the group’s most significant military operation since the conflict began in October last year.
The attacks have left northern Israel in disarray, with schools closed and public gatherings banned. Around 80,000 residents remain displaced, and the situation is growing more precarious as Hezbollah’s range of rocket attacks expands. The IDF confirmed that in addition to the rocket barrage, Israeli air defenses intercepted cruise missiles and drones fired from Iraq, which suggests increased coordination between Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias.
Residents of Haifa are expressing frustration with the prolonged conflict. “We can’t live like this anymore,” said one woman whose home sustained a direct hit from a Hezbollah rocket. Israeli military forces have stepped up operations in southern Lebanon in response to the attacks, but with no clear resolution in sight, the violence is expected to continue.
