Hamas Targets Tel Aviv with Rocket Launches Amid Rising Tensions in Lebanon

Hamas Targets Tel Aviv with Rocket Launches

Hamas announced on Tuesday that it had fired two ‘M90’ rockets aimed at Tel Aviv and its surrounding suburbs. While residents reported hearing explosions throughout the city, which is situated along Israel’s central coast, local media outlets indicated that there were no immediate casualties. According to Israel’s military reports, the rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, with one projectile landing in the sea off the central coast and the other failing to make it into Israeli territory.

During the past ten months, Palestinian rocket fire has significantly decreased, particularly following Israel’s extensive military offensive in Gaza, which was initiated in response to Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7. The last recorded rocket strike on Tel Aviv took place on May 26. Although militants continue to launch sporadic rocket and mortar attacks near the Gaza border, the majority of these projectiles are either intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system or land in unpopulated areas, thus avoiding casualties and damage.

Evacuation of Prisoners Amid Rising Tensions in Lebanon

In a related development, Lebanese authorities have taken precautionary measures by evacuating prisoners from police stations located in Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon. This decision comes amid escalating fears of a potential conflict with Israel. Judicial and security officials report that approximately 220 prisoners have been relocated to safer locations within the country. This move is largely a response to the ongoing exchange of cross-border fire between Israeli forces and the militant group Hezbollah, particularly after Israel’s recent killing of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander last month. Hezbollah has promised to retaliate for this loss.

Should full-scale war erupt, there are widespread concerns that areas like Beirut’s southern suburbs and south Lebanon—where Hezbollah maintains a strong presence—could be subjected to intense airstrikes by Israeli forces. The evacuated prisoners are being held on various charges, including serious offenses such as murder and theft.

Israel Claims Successful Interception of UAVs

On the same day, the Israeli military reported the successful interception of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace. Since Hamas’s attack on October 7, Hezbollah militants have engaged in near-daily skirmishes with Israeli troops along the border, claiming that these strikes are intended to alleviate pressure on Gaza. Tensions have escalated across the Middle East, particularly following last July’s attacks that resulted in the deaths of prominent figures in both Hezbollah and Hamas, incidents both attributed to Israel’s actions. While Israel has confirmed the killing of Hezbollah’s commander, it has neither acknowledged nor denied involvement in the targeted killing of Hamas’ political chief in Tehran.

Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, indicated that the group might choose to act independently or in coordination with its allies within the so-called “axis of resistance,” which includes Iran and its affiliated groups in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria. In response to increasing tensions, Iran dismissed a call from three European nations urging it to refrain from any retaliatory actions that could escalate the situation further.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military shared footage on Tuesday that purportedly shows its troops engaged in operations within the Gaza Strip. The military confirmed that it is actively conducting operations in the enclave, including targeted strikes in the Khan Younis area. A statement from the Israeli military highlighted that their forces have recently targeted various “terrorist infrastructure sites,” which include launch sites, sniper positions, military installations, and observation posts.