Dozens of Rockets Fired as Israel and Hezbollah Continue Mutual Attacks at the Lebanon Border

Following the firing of dozens of rockets by Hezbollah into northern Israel on Wednesday, Israeli and Lebanese media report continued mutual attacks by the Israeli army and Hezbollah in Lebanon against the opposing territory on Thursday, September 15. According to Axios, the U.S. and Israel have been exploring ways to reduce the crisis in the region through secret contacts this week. Kan network and Israel's army radio reported that on Wednesday, 'at least' 115 rockets hit the border town of Kiryat Shmona and other northern areas of Israel. Most of the rockets that were not intercepted struck areas that appeared to be empty of residents. In Kiryat Shmona, Israel's northernmost city, two homes, including the residence of the spokesperson for the Israeli home front, were damaged by rocket strikes. The spokesperson informed his mother about the targeting of their home during a phone call in front of the Kan network camera. This family, along with thousands of other residents of northern Israel, has been relocated to Tiberias under a government program for relocating residents in war zones and dangerous areas for the past 11 months. Reports indicate that Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Wednesday destroyed a poultry farm in the town of Zar'it but did not cause any casualties. Kan Israel reported on Tuesday night that hundreds of homes have been destroyed in Kiryat Shmona and other northern Israeli cities. Mayors of northern Israeli cities also stated that their defense minister mentioned returning Lebanon to the 'Stone Age' as punishment for Hezbollah, while northern Israeli cities have turned into ruins. Avichai Stern, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Yedioth Ahronoth TV on Thursday that he informs another displaced family every day that if they ever return, they will have no home to live in. The Security Council has called for a halt to the fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Army radio reported that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, did not declare the return of northern Israeli residents to their homes as one of the objectives of the ongoing war during his Wednesday press conference for foreign media, while he had named it as one of the four main objectives of the current war in a similar meeting two nights prior for Israeli media. Sky News Arabia reported that in an Israeli army attack early on September 15 in Kfar 'Kipra' in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah militant was killed. Local media in Lebanon reported on Thursday that the Israeli army attacked targets in the villages of 'Leif,' 'Ramiyeh,' and 'Aita al-Shaab' in southern Lebanon. On Wednesday night, the Israeli army also shelled targets near the city of Siddiqin in Lebanon. 'Four sources' from Israel and the U.S. told Axios that senior officials from both countries discussed options for de-escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, September 13, initiated by the Biden administration. The report indicates that Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, Brett McGurk, Deputy National Security Advisor, and Amos Hochstein, U.S. Special Envoy, discussed achieving a long-term diplomatic solution in the virtual meeting, which included Ron Dermer, Israel's Strategic Minister, but also considered the short-term effects on the Israel-Hezbollah border crisis if a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war is not reached. An Israeli official told Axios that Amos Hochstein stated in the meeting that a ceasefire in Gaza would lead to de-escalation in Lebanon and allow Israel to refocus on normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. The escalation of Hezbollah's attacks against Israel comes as Israel attacked hundreds of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon last week in a preemptive operation to prevent Hezbollah's Secretary-General from fulfilling his promise to retaliate for the death of Foad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander. Israel killed Foad Shukr in the southern suburb of Beirut on July 30 to avenge the death of 12 Israeli children in a Hezbollah rocket attack. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, Hezbollah has stated that its military actions against Israel will cease when the Israeli army ends the war in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized in two press conferences this week for Israeli and international media that controlling the Philadelphi Corridor in southern Gaza to cut off arms smuggling from outside into Gaza is of utmost importance to him, and until this area is properly controlled 'by any entity capable of doing so,' Israel will be in 'vital danger.' Hamas announced on September 15 that there is no need for new ceasefire proposals from the U.S., as this extremist group claims pressure must be applied to Israel to accept the previous U.S. plan, which Hamas had also agreed to. Hamas claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on continuing Israeli control over the Philadelphi Corridor undermines the chances of success for any new proposal. Hamas and Hezbollah, which are recognized as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and the European Union, are significant proxy groups for Tehran in the region.